The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Richard Nash McInerney (ASN: 0-90954), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain McInerney distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Commanding Officer of Company D, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in action against the enemy in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 11 March 1967. On that date, Captain McInerney’s battalion was conducting numerous search-and-destroy operations against North Vietnamese units in the II Corps area. At about 1100 hours, Captain McInerney’s company was called upon to relieve another company pinned down by an enemy force of unknown size. They were helilifted into a landing zone adjacent to the beleaguered friendly company. Captain McInerney led his men into immediate contact with a Viet Cong force. When one of his platoons became pinned down in an open area by hostile fire, realizing that a quick action on the Viet Cong emplacements was necessary due to a steadily mounting total of casualties, Captain McInerney seized a machine gun and ran forward 25 meters, where he was wounded by a rifle bullet. He asked casualties of his unit in a ditch nearby to indicate the location of the enemy position and men said the enemy was 20 meters to the front. Ignoring the hostile fire, Captain McInerney raised up to throw a grenade and was mortally wounded by enemy fire. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain McInerney, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.