The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Ronald J. Kelly (MCSN: 2182506), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Service Platoon, First Bridge Company, Seventh Engineer Battalion, in connection with combat operations against the insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 4 September 1967, Corporal Kelly and five other Marines were returning from a routine maintenance check on the Son Cau Lau Ferry when the vehicle in which they were riding detonated an enemy mine. As a result of the explosion, the vehicle operator was killed and the passengers were wounded, including Corporal Kelly who, in addition to his other painful wounds, sustained a broken collar bone. Almost simultaneously, the Marines came under heavy small arms fire from an ambush site. Repeatedly exposing himself to continuous enemy fire, Corporal Kelly attempted to remove his wounded companions from the wreckage, however, due to the seriousness of his wounds and extreme pain, he lost consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, he continued his efforts until he observed the enemy advancing from a woodline approximately 150 meters away. Disregarding the hostile fire around him, he obtained a weapon from the damaged vehicle, unhesitatingly positioned himself between his wounded comrades and the advancing enemy and began delivering a heavy volume of return fire which forced the enemy to withdraw to their positions in the woodline. Subsequently, when a relief force arrived to assist the Marines, Corporal Kelly refused evacuation and remained in the area to provide covering fire while his wounded companions were evacuated. By his courageous actions, determined fighting spirit and presence of mind in an extremely hazardous situation, Corporal Kelly undoubtedly prevented the enemy from overrunning his position which saved the lives of his fellow Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.