The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Raymond Robello Dias, III (MCSN: 2190084), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company A, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 16 April 1968, during a search and clear operation west of Khe Sanh, Company A came under heavy small arms and mortar fire from an entrenched North Vietnamese Army platoon and sustained numerous casualties. With complete disregard for his own safety, he unhesitatingly moved to the aid of his fallen comrades and was wounded by mortar fragments during one of his rescue attempts. Refusing medical aid, he then crawled into an exposed bomb crater to aid two injured Marines pinned down by sniper fire. After moving the men to safety, he returned to his weapon and provided accurate machine gun suppressive fire until it was subsequently destroyed by an enemy hand grenade. Obtaining an M-79 grenade launcher, he then engaged several enemy bunkers. On one occasion, he crawled dangerously close to a hostile sniper position and attempted to kill the enemy soldier with hand grenades. Realizing that the number of Marine casualties was mounting, he manned a radio and assisted in the coordination and orderly recovery of the dead and wounded. Throughout, his daring and heroic actions undoubtedly saved the lives of several of his companions and were instrumental in the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his bold leadership, courage and steadfast devotion of duty at great personal risk, Private Dias upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.