The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Ronald Quentin Butlin (NSN: B-518888), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against a hostile force serving as a Corpsman with Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 February 1969, Company F was heavily engaged with a hostile unit near the village of Thon Binh Thai, in Quang Nam Province, when the Marines came under a heavy volume of anti-tank rocket fire, sustaining several casualties. Completely disregarding his own safety, Petty Officer Butlin unhesitatingly moved about the dangerous area rendering first aid to the wounded men. Later that same morning, is platoon was conducting a search of the village when the Marines again came under a heavy volume of hostile fire which caused several casualties and pinned down the lead elements of the unit, preventing them from reaching the injured men. Ignoring the enemy rocket, small arms, and automatic weapons rounds impacting near him, Petty Officer Butlin ran across the fire-swept terrain to within fifteen meters of the hostile emplacements and fearlessly commenced treating the wounded Marines. Seriously injured in the shoulder, he ignored his painful wound and, refusing medical attention, resolutely continued his determined efforts to care for his companions. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Petty Officer Butlin was instrumental in saving the lives of three Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.