The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Ronald Richard King (ASN: US-52674821), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 12 July 1967, Private First Class King distinguished himself while serving as a Machine Gunner in Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, operating near Duc Co. As his platoon crossed a small hill it began receiving heavy mortar and automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force and was forced to stop. Private First Class King immediately set up his machine gun and began to return the enemy fire with such effectiveness that several enemy attacks were stopped before they could reach the platoon’s lines. When the platoon began to displace to a more advantageous position, he and his machine gun crew remained behind to cover the movement, undaunted by enemy fire so thick it kicked up rocks at their faces. Though the full basic load of ammunition had been fired from the weapon the attacks continued. Private First Class King and his assistant machine gunner began moving about under extremely heavy rocket, mortar and individual weapons fire in an attempt to gather more ammunition. The assistant gunner was mortally wounded but he returned to the machine gun, loaded it and began firing again. The enemy approached to within 15 meters and his cover became inadequate. When his gun jammed, there was no time to fix it, but, unwilling to admit defeat, he began throwing hand grenades at them. As the enemy closed on his position, he was fatally wounded. Private First Class King’s extraordinary courage and exceptional gallantry under fire are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.