The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Dwight Richard Dickey (MCSN: 0-66224), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. As Operations Officer for the Southern Sector Defense Command, Major Dickey was participating in a company-size search and destroy operation in the vicinity of Tuy Loan Hamlet (1) in Quang Nam Province on 6 February 1968. Late in the afternoon, the lead platoon was moving across an open field toward a tree line when it suddenly came under intense machine gun and automatic weapons fire from a heavily fortified enemy force entrenched in the tree line. In the initial moments of the attack, the platoon sustained several casualties and was temporarily pinned down by the volume of enemy fire. Without hesitation, Major Dickey advanced to the front of the unit to assist the beleaguered platoon and aid the casualties. Disregarding his own safety, he moved to within a few meters of the enemy positions and began rendering medical assistance to the wounded. Throughout the ensuing fire fight, Major Dickey repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire as he moved from one casualty to another, treating their wounds, comforting them and guiding the injured Marines to positions of safety. On one occasion when an enemy grenade landed in the midst of several wounded men, he reacted instantly, and with exceptional composure and courage, retrieved the grenade and quickly threw it back into an enemy position only second before it exploded. When all the casualties had been treated and evacuated, Major Dickey, aware that the platoon commander had been wounded, consolidated his men, reorganized their positions and, coordinating their fire with supporting arms fire, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. As the confused enemy broke contact with the Marines and withdrew, Major Dickey aggressively led the members of the platoon through the hostile positions and secured the area. His indomitable fighting spirit and sincere concern for his fellow Marines inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving several Marine lives and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Major Dickey upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.