The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Corporal] Michael K. Keleher (MCSN: 2002102), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Patrol Leader with Company D, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 4 May 1967, Sergeant Keleher was leading an eight-man reconnaissance team in search of a suspected enemy mortar emplacement in the vicinity of Dong Ha when his patrol came under intense small arms fire from a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force, and one of the Marines was wounded. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Keleher unhesitatingly moved across the fire-swept terrain to reach his fallen comrade., moved him to a covered position, and then boldly shielded the injured man with his own body while a Corpsman administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Quickly establishing a defensive perimeter, Sergeant Keleher requested and skillfully adjusted supporting artillery fire to within 100 meters of his position which inflicted heavy losses upon the North Vietnamese Army force and thwarted an attempt to surround and overrun his patrol. When a medical evacuation helicopter arrived on station, he ignored the enemy rounds impacting around him as he fearlessly stood in full view of the enemy to wave an air panel and guide the extraction aircraft to his position. After quickly embarking all of the men that had been wounded during the fire fight, he cleared the helicopter to depart he hazardous area. When the North Vietnamese moved to within thirty meters of his perimeter, Sergeant Keleher continued to remain oblivious to the hostile fire as he coordinated and controlled the fire of both his men and supporting artillery with such effectiveness that the North Vietnamese fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable a second transport helicopter to land and extract his patrol. By his courage, superior leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Sergeant Keleher was instrumental in saving the lives of his fellow Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.