The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant David John Ralston (MCSN: 0-102823), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company C, Third Tank Battalion, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. When a large North Vietnamese Army force ambushed a convoy at a bridge on National Route Nine near Ca Lu in Quang Tri Province on 19 April 1968, Second Lieutenant Ralston was directed to lead a reaction force to assist the beleaguered Marines. Rapidly assessing the situation upon arriving at the bridge, he quickly deployed his accompanying infantry squad into a defensive perimeter around a disabled tank. Completely disregarding his own safety, he exposed himself to hostile sniper fire as he leaped upon the tank and removed the wounded crewmen from the vehicle to a place of relative safety. After directing one of his tracked vehicles to pull the disabled tank from the hazardous area to an area where repairs could be performed, Second Lieutenant Ralston ably coordinated the deployment of the infantry squad with his one remaining tracked vehicle as he proceeded toward the ambush site. Alertly observing an abandoned truck on the bridge blocking the relief force from reaching the heavily engaged Marines on the far side of the structure, he fearlessly ran thirty meters across the fire-swept area to the vehicle and drove it off the bridge to the side of the road. Seizing an abandoned M-16 rifle and firing it as he ran, he returned to his tank and immediately directed the delivery of a heavy volume of fire against an enemy bunker, destroying the position and killing five North Vietnamese soldiers. His superb leadership and heroic actions were instrumental in relieving the beleaguered convoy and saving the lives of several Marines. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Ralston upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.