The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Rene Cerda (MCSN: 2318335), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company B, Third Tank Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 19 May 1968, Corporal Cerda was the Loader aboard one of two tanks assigned to assist a friendly unit heavily engaged with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force near the Khe Sanh Combat Base. Arriving at the beleaguered unit’s position, the armored vehicle immediately came under intense enemy anti-tank rocket and small-arms fire. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Corporal Cerda ensured that the 90-mm. cannon was loaded and the .30-caliber machine gun was operative. As the tank moved into the hazardous area, he ably assisted the gunner to deliver a heavy volume of suppressive fire upon the hostile emplacements which enabled two badly damaged vehicles to withdraw to positions of relative safety. Continuing to maneuver across the fire-swept terrain, the tank suddenly sustained a direct hit from an enemy anti-tank rocket that seriously wounded Corporal Cerda and two of the crew members. Ignoring his painful injury, he continued to assist the gunner and load the weapons. Despite sustaining two additional wounds as hostile rocket-propelled grenades impacted upon a tank, he steadfastly refused medical aid and manually operated the machine gun that was damaged by the enemy fire. Fearlessly maintaining his dangerous position, he resolutely ignored the intense hostile fire as the armored vehicle was struck by five additional anti-tank rockets that penetrated the engine compartment and forced the crew to abandon their flaming tank. His heroic actions and resolute determination inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in the Marines accounting for over three hundred North Vietnamese soldiers killed. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Corporal Cerda upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.