THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT

             THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS AWARDED THE

            NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL

                                                 (WITH COMBAT "V")

                                                               TO

    LANCE CORPORAL  ELBERT  L. GATLIN, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

                                                          

                                                               FOR

                   

HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS AN AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN ASSIGNED TO FIRST PLATOON, COMPANY G, SECOND BATALLION, FIRST MARINES, FIRST MARINE DIVISION, IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS AGAINST NORTH VIETNAMESE FORCES IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ON OCTOBER 13 1966. LANCE CORPORAL GATLIN'S PLATOON OUTPOST WAS PINNED DOWN BY INTENSE ENEMY MACHINE GUN AND SMALL ARMS FIRE. DURING THE INITIAL HEAVY ENEMY ATTACK, A FELLOW MARINE WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN THE STOMACH, LANCE CORPORAL GATLIN, WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN SAFETY, LEFT HIS COVERED POSITION, DRAWING THE ENEMY ATTACK TO HIM, AND LAID DOWN SUPPRESSIVE FIRE TO ALLOW THE UNIT CORPSMAN TO REACH THE WOUNDED MARINE. HE REMAINED IN THE STANDING POSITION AND FIRING UNTIL THE REST OF HIS PLATOON COULD BRING THEIR WEAPONS TO BEAR AGAINST THE ENEMY. LANCE CORPORAL GATLIN'S OUTSTANDING INITIATIVE, COURAGEOUS ACTIONS AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVEL SERVICE.    

V

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

Navy & Marine Corps

Commendation Medal