The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman James C. Ross (NSN: 5964486), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Corpsman with Company G, Battalion Landing Team, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the vicinity of Que Son, Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 16 December 1965, Hospitalman Ross was moving with the platoon out of a mountain pass into a valley toward a new objective area when the lead elements were caught in a vicious Viet Cong ambush. The initial burst of fire from machine guns, small arms and fragmentation hand grenades wounded eleven Marines. Unhesitatingly heeding a call for help, Hospitalman Ross courageously crawled about thirty meters through a relentless hail of enemy fire to aid one of the wounded men. With utter disregard for his own safety, Hospitalman Ross remained in the fire-swept zone nearly fifteen minutes, fearlessly exposing himself while kneeling over the stricken Marine to administer mouth to mouth resuscitation. The heroic deed saved his comrade’s life, and wan an inspiration to all who observed him. By his extreme gallantry, exceptional professionalism and selfless dedication to duty at great risk to his own life, Hospitalman Ross upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.