The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the BRONZE STAR MEDAL to
CORPORAL JOSEPH L. COOPER
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
“For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a Machine Gun Section Leader with the Second Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade. On 16 September 1968, the battalion was occupying a defensive position during a search and destroy operation north of the Rockpile in Quang Tri Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of enemy mortar fire. Reacting immediately, Corporal Cooper raced to his gun position and commenced firing on the hostile mortar emplacements, pausing only to change gun barrels with his bare hands. Completely disregarding his own safety, he steadfastly continued his determined efforts throughout the attack, despite the concentration of enemy rounds impacting near him. His heroic actions in the face of intense enemy fire, inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in silencing the North Vietnamese mortar fire. Corporal Cooper’s courage, bold initiative and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. “
Corporal Cooper is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.
FOR THE PRESIDENT,
H. W. BUSE, JR.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS
COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
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