The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Ronald C. Pina (MCSN: 2466510), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Combined Action Platoon 1-3-2, III Marine Amphibious Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 8 May 1970, while Corporal Pina’s platoon occupied a night defensive position adjacent to the village of An Diem in the Binh Son District of Quang Ngai Province, the Marines and Popular Forces soldiers came under a vicious ground attack from a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force comprised of approximately 150 soldiers, supported by intense automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. During the initial moments of the assault, Corporal Pina’s defensive position was the object of concentrated hostile fire and he was wounded in his left foot. Continuing to fight however, he alertly saw an enemy grenade land nearby, endangering the life of another Marine. Reacting instantly, Corporal Pina dived forward, grabbed the grenade and hurled it back at the hostile soldiers, thereby saving the life of his comrade. Observing a wounded man fall forward of the defensive perimeter, he then raced across the fire-swept terrain and, seemingly heedless of the enemy rounds impacting around him, dragged his companion to a covered position. While aiding in treating the wounds of the casualty, he was informed that a mortar position was short of ammunition and, on three separate occasions, boldly traversed the hazardous area to ensure the complete re-supply of the emplacement. Observing two companions attempting to retrieve a machine gun and a grenade launcher from another defensive position, he rushed forward and, although nearing exhaustion from his protracted efforts, and his wound, assisted in moving the weapons back, then, utilizing the machine gun, placed himself at a dangerously exposed vantage point from which he delivered devastating fire at the North Vietnamese Army soldiers and forced them to fall back and to retreat. Determined to exploit the hostile contact to the maximum, Corporal Pina, despite suffering intense pain from his wound, fearlessly led a counter attack on the withdrawing enemy, forcing them into such a disorganized retreat that they left behind their dead and abandoned numerous items of equipment. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal Pina inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.