The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Richard Timothy Curry (MCSN: 2131932), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team 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 the night of 12 August 1967, while deployed in an ambush site near DaNang, Private First Class Curry’s squad came under a hand grenade attack followed by small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force. In the initial moments of the attack, all members of the machine gun team were wounded and rendered incapable of operating the machine gun. Reacting instantly, Private First Class Curry ran fifteen meters under intense enemy fire to the team’s position. While encouraging the wounded men, he boldly positioned himself with the machine gun in full view of the enemy and commenced to direct long bursts of accurate fire into hostile positions. With complete disregard for his own safety, Private First Class Curry continued to fire his weapon until the enemy ceased firing. After expending 600 rounds of ammunition, he moved among his companions, pointing out the enemy positions in the darkness and directing their fire with extreme accuracy until the enemy soldiers were routed from their positions and forced to withdraw. His intrepid actions and indomitable fighting spirit inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving several Marine lives. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Private First Class Curry upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.