The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the

 

SILVER STAR MEDAL to

 

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RANDELL D. HERROD

 

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

 

For service as set forth in the following

 

CITATION:

 

                                    For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Assistant Machine Gunner with Company K, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 July 1969, Company K was occupying a night defensive position approximately three miles northwest of Cam Lo in Quang Tri Province.  Suddenly, the Marines came under heavy ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force utilizing mortars, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenades. During the initial moments of the firefight, a hostile rocket-propelled grenade exploded in Private First Class Herrod’s fighting position, seriously wounding him and his two companions. After dragging his comrades to a position of relative safety, he boldly shielded them from further injuries with his own body and commenced delivering effective M-60 machine gun fire at the enemy. Alertly observing several hostile soldiers who were attempting to destroy nearby tanks with hand grenades, Private First Class Herrod delivered such accurate fire with his weapon that the enemy soldiers were forced to abandon their mission. When the hostile unit turned its attention to his machine gun position, Private First Class Herrod, completely disregarding his own painful wound, resolutely maintained his exposed position and continued to fire at the enemy until reinforcements arrived. His heroic and timely actions and sincere concern for the welfare of his fellow man inspired all who observed him. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Private First Class Herrod contributed significantly to the subsequent defeat of the North Vietnamese Army force and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

 

 

FOR THE PRESIDENT

 

 

H. W. BUSE, JR.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS

COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC