The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Ronald Joel Calhoun, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Patrol Officer of River Patrol Boats 71 and 76, in the Upper Dong Tranh River, Rung Sat Special Zone, Republic of Vietnam, on 22 September 1967. Lieutenant CALHOUN was proceeding into a hostile area for the purpose of inserting a U. S. Navy SEAL Team in a night ambush position of the north bank of the Upper Dong Tranh River. Without warning, PBRs 71 and 76 were attacked by enemy automatic weapons, small arms and B-40 rockets. Lieutenant Calhoun immediately responded to the surprise Viet Cong attack by closing the initial ambush position and directing a heavy volume of .50 caliber machine gun fire thereby protecting the withdrawal of the cover boat from the area. Lieutenant Calhoun then radioed the Tactical Operations Center and requested the assistance of a Helo Fire Team. Although under fire from enemy positions on three sides, Lieutenant Calhoun effectively directed his boats in suppressing the enemy fire and assisted the Helo Fire Team by directing them to the heaviest concentration of Viet Cong. After having cleared the area, Lieutenant Calhoun was informed that one of the SEAL Team members had fallen overboard. He immediately returned deep into the kill zone and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, exposed himself to enemy fire and directed the recovery of the man in the water. Lieutenant Calhoun’s exemplary leadership, courage under fire and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.