The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospital Corpsman Second Class James Rhonda Mathis (NSN: 5440810), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Senior Corpsman of Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 9 April 1968, while occupying a defensive position on Hill 881 South near Khe Sanh, Company I suddenly came under an intense North Vietnamese mortar attack and immediately sustained a casualty. Reacting instantly, Petty Officer Mathis unhesitatingly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain to the side of the injured man and assisted him to a position of relative safety. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he skillfully administered first aid to his wounded comrade and supervised his evacuation. When numerous additional Marines were wounded, he fearlessly moved from one position to another, shielding each man with his own body while providing medical assistance. While moving to assist a casualty, Petty Officer Mathis suddenly came under a heavy volume of hostile small arms fire which knocked him violently to the ground. Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting near him, he resolutely continued to advance through the intense fire while assisting his injured comrades. After the intensity of the enemy attack decreased, he was supervising the evacuation of the wounded when the Marines again came under a heavy volume of hostile mortar fire. Disregarding his own safety, he fearlessly maneuvered across the hazardous area on two additional occasions and rendered vital medical treatment. His heroic actions and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades in the face of extreme personal danger inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of numerous Marines. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Petty Officer Mathis upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.