The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Richard Warren Ryan (MCSN: 2281106), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Radio Operator with Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 12 August 1967, while deployed in an ambush site near DaNang, Lance Corporal Ryan’s squad came under a hand grenade attack followed by small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force. In the initial moments of the attack, he observed a grenade falling in the midst of three Marines and unhesitatingly rushed at the men, shoving them out of the danger area. Unable to reach safety himself before the grenade exploded, Lance Corporal Ryan sustained severe fragmentation wounds of the neck and face. Ignoring his painful wounds, he returned to his position and commenced to operate the radio, relaying the squad leader’s report of the attack to the base camp. Although forced by extreme weakness and the loss of his voice to relinquish his radio to another Marine, Lance Corporal Ryan steadfastly refused medical assistance until all other wounded men had been treated. His exceptional fortitude and bold initiative inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving several Marine lives. By his extraordinary courage, unwavering determination and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal Ryan upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.