The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Richard A. Moss (MCSN: 1486097), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Company Gunnery Sergeant of Company E, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 May 1968, during Operation SCOTLAND II, Company E was directed to assist another Marine unit which had sustained several casualties during a heavy engagement with a large hostile force south of Khe Sanh. Because the ridgelines on either side of the beleaguered company contained enemy soldiers occupying well-fortified bunkers, Company E was forced to battle its way up the hill and, at one point, the momentum of the Marine advance was threatened by intense automatic weapons fire delivered from the right flank. With complete disregard for his own safety, Gunnery Sergeant Moss unhesitatingly led a squad assault against the hostile emplacement and silenced the enemy fire. During the continued advance, three wounded Marines fell in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire. Although a vulnerable target for enemy gunners, Gunnery Sergeant Moss, with a companion, boldly moved to their side and pulled the injured men to covered positions. His apparent fearlessness inspired his companions to greater efforts and they quickly destroyed the remaining resistance and attained their objective. During the early morning hours of 30 May, the company defensive perimeter was subjected to a vicious attack by an estimated reinforced hostile battalion and although enemy rounds impacted throughout the area, Gunnery Sergeant Moss boldly moved from one Marine position to another, encouraging the men, directing their fire, and distributing ammunition. When one of the platoon leaders was seriously wounded, he unhesitatingly took charge of that unit and, constantly patrolling his sector of the defensive perimeter, ensured that every avenue of approach was effectively covered by fire. Although seriously wounded, Gunnery Sergeant Moss, despite his painful injuries, steadfastly refused medical evacuation and resolutely continued his determined combat efforts until the attack was repelled and all of the casualties had been embarked aboard medical evacuation helicopters. His heroic and bold actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in the defeat of a tenacious and numerically superior hostile unit. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Gunnery Sergeant Moss upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.