The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Reid R. Ross, Jr. (MCSN: 2395408), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 4 December 1968, Company I was participating in Operation Meade River south of DaNang when the Marines were pinned down by an extremely heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army unit occupying fortified emplacements. Rapidly assessing the situation, Corporal Ross immediately left his position of relative safety and exposing himself to the intense enemy fire, moved from one position to another in order to determine ammunition requirements and encourage his men. Temporarily unable to deploy his men to an alternate location because of the intensity of the hostile fire, he fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain and hurled hand grenades and fired several light antitank assault weapons at the North Vietnamese bunkers. Realizing that his position was rapidly becoming untenable, Corporal Ross returned to his squad and skillfully directed his men to a more secure area while personally providing covering fire for them. Observing two casualties lying in an area dangerously exposed to the enemy fire, he unhesitatingly manned an M-60 machine gun and, with complete disregard for the intensity of the hostile rounds impacting near him, boldly delivered protective fire for an evacuation team until he was mortally wounded. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty, Corporal Ross inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.