The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Larry James Berry (MCSN: 2091073), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Combat Engineer with Company A, First Battalion, Third Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 6 July 1967, during Operation BUFFALO, Corporal Berry’s company was attacked by an estimated regiment of North Vietnamese Army Regulars in Quang Tri Province. As the attack commenced, Corporal Berry left his relatively safe position in the rear area and volunteered to serve as a rifleman with one of the squads which had sustained numerous casualties. After assuming a defensive position at the point of heaviest contact along the lines, he observed that all the members of a machine gun team were wounded. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Corporal Berry unhesitatingly ran across forty meters of open terrain, placed the weapon back in action and delivered a heavy volume of machine gun fire which momentarily suppressed the hostile fire. While he maneuvered back to the squad’s position with the machine gun, the enemy ground unit launched its main assault. Fearlessly standing fully exposed to the intense enemy fire with his weapon on his hip, he fired point blank into the ranks of the advancing enemy and then moved to a position on the perimeter. His heroic and tireless actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in repulsing the North Vietnamese Army force. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal risk, Corporal Berry upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.