The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Richard L. Russell (MCSN: 0-108776), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 August 1969, Second Lieutenant Russell’s platoon was conducting a search and destroy operation south of DaNang in Que Son Valley when the Marines came under intense enemy machine gun fire, fatally wounding several men maneuvering with the left flank element. Rapidly assessing the situation, Second Lieutenant Russell, accompanied by his radio operator, fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain in an attempt to remove several casualties from forward positions to allow utilization of supporting fixed wing aircraft strikes. When his radio operator was seriously wounded by the heavy volume of enemy fire, Second Lieutenant Russell unhesitatingly shielded the casualty with his own body and administered mouth to mouth resuscitation until all attempts to revive the wounded man failed. After deploying several men to ensure that the hostile force did not surround the Marines, Second Lieutenant Russell, despite the intense heat and hostile fire, continued toward the fallen Marines but was turned back by the intense enemy fire. After crawling with his mortally wounded radio operator on his back to a position of relative safety, he obtained a grenade launcher and once again set out for the left flank position, only to be forced back by the proximity of supporting aircraft strikes. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Russell inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.