The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Gary Wayne Ragsdale (MCSN: 2562170), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Reconnaissance Man with Company E, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 14 June 1970, an eight-man patrol from Company E became heavily engaged in combat with a North Vietnamese Army force of approximately thirty soldiers shortly after being heli-lifted into an enemy infiltration area south of DaNang. Realizing the precariousness of his vastly outnumbered companions’ situation, Lance Corporal Ragsdale unhesitatingly left the relative security of a shallow gully and, rushing across a fie-swept clearing, stood on a dangerously exposed knoll to deliver rapid grenade launcher fire at the advancing soldiers while his team deployed into effective fighting emplacements. When the vigor of his counterattack momentarily stalled the momentum of the hostile attack, he then ran across the open area to rejoin the patrol. Almost immediately, the enemy launched a second assault at the team from three different positions and again Lance Corporal Ragsdale braved the hostile fusillade to move to the point of heaviest contact from which he delivered devastating fire into the ranks of the rapidly moving enemy. Although he now became the target for concentrated fire from two machine gun positions, he relentlessly continued his resolute defense and destroyed one of the machine guns before being mortally wounded by fire from the second one. His heroic and determined actions inspired his companions to maximum combat efforts which enabled them to repel several additional determined attacks. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Ragsdale upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.