The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Kenneth Edward Cress (NSN: 7887894), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman attached to Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 28 October 1967, Petty Officer Cress was accompanying a platoon en route to an ambush site when it encountered a numerically superior force of Viet Cong. In the initial burst of automatic weapons and small arms fire, one Marine fell mortally wounded. Unaware of this fact, Petty Officer Cress completely disregarded his own safety as he unhesitatingly maneuvered his way to aid the man. Although utilizing available cover, he was severely wounded in the leg as he advanced. Nevertheless, he continued on and upon finding the Marine beyond his help crawled to the side of another seriously wounded Marine. While shielding the casualty with his own body and applying first aid, Petty Officer Cress was wounded two more times. Unable to move, he waited until the reaction force arrived and then instructed others in comforting and caring for the casualties. By his selfless determination to aid his companions, resolute courage despite shock and intense pain from his own wounds and his unfaltering dedication to duty, Petty Officer Cress upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.