The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Richard C. Mulhaupt (NSN: 501920), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman with the Battalion Aid Station of the Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 30 April 1968, the Third Battalion was participating in Operation KENTUCKY near Cam Vu in Quang Tri Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of artillery, small arms and automatic weapons fire from a large, well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army force. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Petty Officer Mulhaupt assisted in organizing and preparing facilities for assisting his unit’s numerous casualties. When all other battalion aid station personnel were killed or wounded by two enemy mortar rounds which impacted nearby, he unhesitatingly organized Marines to act as provisional corpsmen and skillfully directed their treatment of the casualties while personally aiding the more seriously wounded. Demonstrating outstanding professionalism and calm presence of mind, he assigned priorities and directed the evacuation of seventy-one casualties within a four hour period. His timely actions and bold initiative inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of numerous Marines. By his courage, superior leadership and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Petty Officer Mulhaupt upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.