The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Conal Joseph Byrne, Jr. (NSN: 7887094), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Corpsman with Company F, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist forces in the Republic of Vietnam, on 21 September 1967. While on a search and destroy mission, Company F was taken under fire by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. During the vicious battle that followed, many friendly casualties were incurred. Although seriously wounded in the shoulder during the initial rain of fire, Petty Officer Byrne began moving among the Marine casualties, rendering medical aid while exposing himself to the intense barrage of fire being delivered by the hostile force. Defying the enemy fire, he advanced forty meters over fire-swept terrain to aid a wounded Marine. Mortally wounded while performing this last selfless act, Petty Officer Byrne, by his outstanding courage and inspiring devotion to duty, upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.