The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Raymond Edward Dito (MCSN: 0-103445), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 28 May 1968, Company F was occupying a night defensive position on a ridge line near Khe Sanh in Quang Tri Province when an estimated twenty-five North Vietnamese soldiers were observed moving toward the western edge of his unit’s perimeter. Quickly requesting 60-mm. mortar support, Second Lieutenant Dito adjusted accurate fire on the hostile force, halting their advance and causing them to disperse. A short time later, an estimated battalion-size enemy force launched an attack against the perimeter utilizing satchel charges, hand grenades and rocket propelled grenades. Calmly directing the fire of his men as the enemy assaulted his position, he fearlessly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he continually moved through the hazardous area encouraging his men and coordinating the defense of his platoon’s sector of the perimeter. After two hours, when the North Vietnamese penetrated his lines and isolated his unit, Second Lieutenant Dito consolidated his men into a defensive perimeter and began leading them back to the company position. Although he was wounded, the platoon reached the perimeter and prepared to repulse additional assaults by the enemy. When the hostile force subsequently broke contact and withdrew, he supervised the evacuation of his casualties, refusing evacuation for himself until all of the other wounded were removed from the battle area. His heroic actions and dynamic leadership inspired his men and contributed significantly to the defeat of the numerically superior enemy force, accounting for 230 North Vietnamese confirmed killed. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Second Lieutenant Dito upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.