THE WALL OF FACES

Semper Fi Corporal.

Dear CPL Terry Lee Smith, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

Considering the Constitution of the Republic of Vietnam, dated 1 April 1967;

Considering Decree #234TTSL, dated 25 May 1968, prescribing the composition of the Government;

Considering Edict #10-b, dated 15 August 1950, creating the MILITARY MERIT MEDAL;

Considering Decree #74-bQT, dated 15 August 1950, prescribing the procedures for awarding the MILITARY MERIT MEDAL;

Following the recommendation of the Chief of the Joint General Staff, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces;

DECREES THAT:

ARTICLE I: This formalizes the posthumous award of the MILITARY MERIT MEDAL to the U. S. Marine Corps personnel whose names appear below with the following meritorious citation:

'Servicemen of courage and rare self-sacrifice, they displayed at all times the most tactful cooperation while aiding the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam to repel the Red wave undermining South Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

With a ready zeal and commendable response, they fought on to the end in every mission and set a brilliant example for their fellow soldiers.

They died in the performance of duty. Behind them they leave the abiding grief of their former comrades-in-arms, Vietnamese as well as American.'



Cpl. Homer Taylor, Jr. 18 Feb 1968 .
Cpl. Terry Lee Smith 20 Feb 1968 .
PFC. Robert Ellis Dooley 22 Feb 1968 .
GySgt. Eugene Charles 23 Feb 1968 .
GySgt. Paul Edward Robitaille 23 Feb 1968 .
Cpl. Robert Arthur Wiedeman 25 Feb 1968 .
PFC. Frank Adam Szymanski 25 Feb 1968

THESE POSTHUMOUS AWARDS ARE TO INCLUDE THE GALLANTRY CROSS WITH PALM.

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON, DC 20350



The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL posthumously to
CORPORAL TERRY L. SMITH
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a radio operator with Company 'M', Third Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 20 February 1968, on Hill 881S near Khe Sanh, Corporal Smith observed a Marine helicopter landing in a zone on which he knew North Vietnamese Army gunners had registered heavy mortars. He realized that the aircraft would almost certainly be destroyed if it re- mained in the landing zone, and attempted unsuccessfully to contact the pilot by radio. Aware that the enemy rounds were probably already on the way, he restrained a Marine junior to him from going out on to the zone, and leaving the safety of his bunker ran across the open ground signaling manually to the helicopter crew to take off immediately. As the helicopter took off and before Corporal Smith could reach cover, he was fatally wounded by mortar fragments, gallantly sacrificing his life so that the crew might live. By his extraordinary courage in the face of over- whelming odds, his uncommon concern for others, and his self sacri- ficing efforts, Corporal Smith reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

For the President,
s J. William Middendorf
Secretary of the Navy

Rest in peace with the warriors.