The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Raymond William Kalm (MCSN: 0-81597), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the late afternoon of 24 January 1968, Captain Kalm’s unit was assigned as a relief force to assist a convoy ambushed by a numerically superior force of North Vietnamese Army Regulars near Camp J. J. CARROLL in Quang Tri Province. Subsequently, when he was informed that the personnel involved in the ambush had been safely extracted, he immediately deployed his men on a hill top position and established a night perimeter defense. Early the following morning, he maneuvered half of his force to the ambush site while skillfully deploying the remainder of his unit to the high ground overlooking the hazardous area. As he began conducting a clearing operation of the area, his unit came under intense enemy automatic weapons and sniper fire. Reacting instantly and disregarding his personal safety, he skillfully coordinated his men’s fire with his forces on the high ground, gaining fire superiority and forcing the enemy to retreat. During the afternoon, Captain Kalm’s unit was assigned as the security element for the Battalion Command Post and established a night defensive perimeter in the area known as Mikes Hill. Early in the morning, his company came under intense enemy fire followed by a well coordinated ground assault by a North Vietnamese Army force. Disregarding the heavy volume of recoilless rifle, automatic weapons and sniper fire and rocket propelled grenades, he courageously moved throughout the hazardous area directing his unit’s return fire. Repeatedly exposing himself to the hostile fire, he skillfully adjusted artillery and mortar fire on the assaulting enemy until they were repulsed and forced to withdraw. As a result of his superb professionalism, he was instrumental in his unit accounting for 131 enemy confirmed killed and capturing eight North Vietnamese prisoners along with a large quantity of enemy equipment. By his resolute courage, inspiring leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme peril, Captain Kalm upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.