The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Ralph E. Smith (MCSN: 2121251), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Fire Team Leader of the Second Platoon, Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (FMF), in the Republic of Vietnam on 12 May 1967. During Operation UNION near Que Son, the point fire team of the platoon came under heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire from well-concealed emplacements approximately 200 meters away. Corporal Smith maneuvered his fire team toward the enemy positions and directed his men in a grenade attack on them. With complete disregard for his own safety, he aggressively assaulted the positions of the North Vietnamese soldiers, driving them from their trenches and killing three of them. From another position they opened fire on Corporal Smith and his men, with a barrage of small arms and automatic weapons fire and grenades. Although painfully wounded by shrapnel, he again braved the deadly withering enemy fire and crossed the exposed area to gather badly needed ammunition from the wounded and dead Marines, then returned to distribute it among the members of his squad. When his men were ordered to move to a better firing position, Corporal Smith stayed behind and poured a steady volume of well-aimed fire into the enemy positions, maintaining fire superiority, until his comrades had reached covered positions. His extraordinary courage and marked determination were instrumental in enabling his unit to accomplish its mission with a minimum of casualties. His aggressive fighting spirit and initiative in the face of the enemy were an inspiration to all who observed him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.