The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Ruben Santos (MCSN: 1645553), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company G, Second Battalion, Third Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 April 19676, during Operation BEACON STAR, Staff Sergeant Santos’ platoon was assigned the mission of seizing a hill near Khe Sanh. As the assault elements of the platoon maneuvered up the slope, they came under intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. Unhesitatingly, Staff Sergeant Santos moved forward through the hostile fire, encouraging his men and fearlessly leading them in the assault. Observing that one of his men was wounded in the throat and bleeding profusely, Staff Sergeant Santos immediately moved to the man’s side, skillfully administered first aid and successfully stopping the bleeding. Upon being relieved by a Corpsman, Staff Sergeant Santos then returned to his men and assisted the platoon commander in directing the assault on the objective. Later, while establishing a night defensive perimeter, a Marine was mortally wounded by fire from a spider trap which had been bypassed in the darkness. Observing that the enemy were trying to pull the man into the emplacement, Staff Sergeant Santo, disregarding his own safety, fearlessly moved forward and tied a line to the man’s legs. As he attempted to pull the Marine from the hole, the enemy soldiers fired through the casualty’s body, inflicting flash burns on Staff Sergeant Santos’ face and hands. Realizing that the man had succumbed to his wounds and that further attempts to clear the bunker in the darkness would cause additional casualties, he ordered his men to cover the bunker with logs and block all exits. On the following morning, investigation of the bunker revealed two enemy dead, one wounded North Vietnamese soldier and several weapons. By his courage, inspiring leadership and unswerving devotion to duty, Staff Sergeant Santos contributed materially to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.