The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Ronald Richard Rice (MCSN: 0-100624), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Advisor to the 7th Infantry Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Corps near Dong Cho Mountain, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 15 June 1971. The previous evening, during an enemy mortar attack, the only other U.S. advisor to the battalion had been killed in action and there were 14 casualties requiring medical evacuation. While Captain Rice was coordinating the medical evacuation at the landing zone, the enemy launched a vicious mortar attack. One helicopter was able to land in the zone and extract some of the wounded, but more casualties were incurred as a result of the attack. Completely disregarding his own safety, Captain Rice remained fully in the open, exposing himself to enemy fire while personally loading casualties into the helicopter. Enemy mortars suddenly struck and destroyed the aircraft, painfully wounding Captain Rice in the leg with shrapnel. The wreckage immediately caught on fire trapping the wounded men inside. With full knowledge of the serious hazards involved, Captain Rice unhesitatingly went to the rescue of the men in the burning wreckage. Rapidly pulling them clear of the flaming debris, he moved them to an area of relative safety. In so doing, he incurred burns on his hand and arm. Realizing that he was the sole U.S. contact with his unit. Captain Rice steadfastly refused to be evacuated for his wounds and continued to move with his unit for three consecutive days untreated. His outstanding efforts during this period while adjusting artillery and gunship strikes on enemy positions greatly assisted in removing enemy pressure from his unit. By his daring actions and fearless devotion to duty, Captain Rice upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.