The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Alfredo Ramo Lazo Castillo (MCSN: 2198359), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 April 1967, while participating in a search and clear mission during Operation CANYON, Corporal Castillo demonstrated exceptional leadership and bold aggressiveness when the first squad of his platoon, moving across an exposed area, came under intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire from concealed positions sixty-five meters to their front. He immediately maneuvered his machine gun teams to effective firing positions and skillfully directed accurate suppressive fire at the enemy. Completely disregarding his own safety, Corporal Castillo unhesitatingly moved across the open area, delivering a steady volume of fire on the Viet Cong positions. In a sudden burst of Viet Cong fire, he was hit in the shoulder and knocked to the ground. Undaunted, he immediately regained his feet, and despite his painful wound, continued his assault until his weapon was hit by an enemy round, causing it to malfunction. Without pausing, he applied immediate action to his weapon and continued the assault. Shouting words of encouragement, he led his comrades through the hostile fire until the enemy positions were overrun and the enemy was routed. As a result of his aggressive fighting spirit and determination, he personally killed one Viet Cong and assisted in killing two other enemy. By his courageous leadership, fearless initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal Castillo inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.