The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Joseph P. Parrish (MCSN: 2397420), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Reconnaissance Scout with the First Force Reconnaissance Company, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 April 1969, Corporal Parrish was a member of an eight-man reconnaissance patrol which had been inserted into Duc Duc District, Quang Nam Province. Subsequently coming under intense fire delivered by thirty-five North Vietnamese Army soldiers, the Marines rapidly established a defensive perimeter and tenaciously held off the determined and numerically superior hostile force throughout the night. On the following afternoon, the enemy unit attacked and attempted to breach a section of the battle-weary patrol’s perimeter. Utilizing a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire, three of the hostile soldiers maneuvered to within ten meters of the Marine emplacement, where they pinned down a member of the reconnaissance team. Reacting instantly, Corporal Parrish rushed across the fire-swept terrain to the side of his companion and, standing in full view of the enemy, diverted the attention of hostile soldiers by shouting and firing his weapon, thereby enabling his comrade to deploy to a covered position. When another Marine was also pinned down by vicious hostile fire, Corporal Parrish repeating his daring actions, again diverted the attention of the enemy while his companion crawled to a position of relative safety. While engaged in this selfless task, Corporal Parrish was seriously wounded until he had expended all of his ammunition. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and saved the lives of two fellow Marines. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal Parrish upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.