The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Richard W. Baskin (MCSN: 2051026), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Squad Leader, First Squad while serving with Security Platoon, Sub Unit #1, Headquarters Company, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade near Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam on 6 June 1967. Sergeant Baskin with seventeen men was responsible for security of the vital radio relay position on Hill 950 near Khe Sanh, when in the early morning hours the position was suddenly attacked by a ninety man enemy company employing mortars, rocket launchers, machine guns and grenades. Six men were immediately killed and four others seriously wounded. Sergeant Baskin directed that artillery fire be called in and quickly organized his men, positioning them in the most advantageous positions to return a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy and effectively block enemy penetration. Throughout the night, although painfully wounded, Sergeant Baskin, with complete disregard for his personal safety exposed himself continuously to enemy machine gun fire located only fifteen yards from his position. Shouting encouragement to his men, he led them on several occasions to positions that blocked enemy attempts to outflank and overrun the position. After over seven hours of close and continuous combat, during which time he tended the wounded and assembled all available weapons, Sergeant Baskin led his remaining men in a fierce counterattack which overran an enemy machine gun emplacement, killing one enemy and capturing another. This last attack resulted in the enemy fleeing, carrying some of their dead and wounded. Sergeant Baskin, then consolidated the position and directed the evacuation of the dead and wounded before he himself was evacuated. As a result of his dauntless leadership, Sergeant Baskin and his men inflicted great damage on the enemy who left ten of their dead and one wounded. Sergeant Baskin’s bold initiative, exceptional fortitude and valiant fighting spirit served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.