The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Johnny Boy Rice (MCSN: 222113), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company D, First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 31 January 1967, Lance Corporal Rice’s squad-size patrol was crossing an open rice paddy when the unit was ambushed by a numerically superior enemy force. In the initial burst of fire, several patrol members, including the squad leader, were wounded and fell in an exposed area. Exhibiting exceptional presence of mind, he immediately reorganized the patrol members and directed effective return fire at the enemy positions. After radioing for assistance, Lance Corporal Rice repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he assisted his wounded comrades to positions of safety and administered first aid. As ammunition supplies became dangerously low, he fearlessly moved to each position re-distributing the remaining ammunition. Subsequently, reinforcements consisting of a squad, an artillery forward observer team and two amphibian tractors arrived and joined in the fire fight. Demonstrating exceptional courage and dedication to his fellow Marines, Lance Corporal Rice assisted the wounded to the amphibian tractors. When both the forward observer and radio operator were mortally wounded, Lance Corporal Rice courageously moved across the fire-swept area, retrieved the radio and called for and directed accurate artillery fire on the enemy positions. While under intense enemy fire, he then assisted in recovering the two members of the Forward Observer Team and helped move them to the amphibian tractors. Selflessly, Lance Corporal Rice continued to direct artillery fire in the proximity of their positions, reducing the effectiveness of the enemy attack. Throughout, his daring actions and bold initiative in the face of extreme danger inspired all those who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his unwavering devotion to duty, aggressive actions and steadfast courage, Lance Corporal Rice upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.