MELVIN E. NEWLIN
Private First Class
United States Marine Corps
Melvin Newlin
PRIVATE
FIRST CLASS MELVIN E. NEWLIN
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call
of duty while serving as a machine gunner attached to the First Platoon, Company
F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, in the Republic of
Vietnam on 3 and 4 July 1967. Private Newlin with four other Marines, was manning
a key position on the perimeter of the Nong Son outpost when the enemy launched
a savage and well coordinated mortar and infantry assault, seriously wounding
him and killing his four comrades. Propping himself against his machine gun,
he poured a deadly accurate stream of fire into the charging ranks of the Viet
Cong. Though repeatedly hit by small arms fire, he twice repelled enemy attempts
to overrun his position. During the third attempt, a grenade explosion wounded
him again and knocked him to the ground unconscious. The Viet Cong guerrillas,
believing him dead, bypassed him and continued their assault on the main force.
Meanwhile, Private Newlin regained consciousness, crawled back to his weapon,
and brought it to bear on the rear of the enemy causing havoc and confusion
among them. Spotting the enemy attempting to bring a captured 106 recoilless
weapon to bear on other Marine positions, he shifted his fire, inflicting heavy
casualties on the enemy and preventing them from firing the captured weapon.
He then shifted his fire back to the primary enemy force, causing the enemy
to stop their assault on the Marine bunkers and to once again attack his machine
gun position. Valiantly fighting off two more enemy assaults, he firmly held
his ground until mortally wounded. Private Newlin had single-handedly broken
up and disorganized the entire enemy assault force, causing them to lose momentum
and delaying them long enough for his fellow Marines to organize a defense and
beat off their secondary attack. His
indomitable courage, fortitude, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face
of almost certain death reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps
and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
RICHARD M. NIXON
President of the United States
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