HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS TOW MISSILE GUNNER, CAAT-2, WEAPONS COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 4TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE DIVISION FROM 10 APRIL 2004 TO 4 MAY 2004. DURING THIS PERIOD, LANCE CORPORAL WIRTH'S INITIATIVE AND EXCEPTIONAL GUNNERY SKILLS RESULTED IN SEVERAL ENEMY KILLED IN ACTION DURING OPERATION VIGILANT RESOLVE IN FALLUJAH, IRAQ. LANCE CORPORAL WIRTH'S CONSTANT OBSERVATION UNDER ENEMY FIRE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN IDENTIFYING ENEMY PERSONNEL WHO WERE USING THE URBAN TERRAIN AS COVER AND CONCEALMENT. ON 11 APRIL, LANCE CORPORAL WIRTH OBSERVED SEVERAL ENEMY PERSONNEL TRYING TO RECOVER WEAPONS FROM A DISABLED VEHICLE LOCATED 450 METERS DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD, SOUTH OF HIS POSITION. HE QUICKLY ACQUIRED THE TARGET AND FIRED A MISSILE INTO THE VEHICLE, DESTROYING THE VEHICLE, THE WEAPONS, AND SEVERAL ENEMY DISMOUNTS. HIS QUICK ACTIONS UNDER FIRE AND EXCEPTIONAL GUNNERY SKILLS IN THE URBAN TERRAIN KEPT THE ENEMY FROM MASSING ON THE PLATOON AND INDIA COMPANY TO THE EAST. LANCE CORPORAL WIRTH'S SUPERIOR PROFESSIONAL ABILITY AND LOYAL DEDICATION TO DUTY THROUGHOUT THIS OPERATION REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. THE V FOR VALOR IS AUTHORIZED.