The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the

SILVER STAR MEDAL to

LtCol RICHARD C. SCHULZE

United States Marine Corps

For service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Schulze, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 16 June 1969, during Operation VIRGINIA RIDGE, Lieutenant Colonel Schulze boldly led his battalion on an assault into Leatherneck Square, an area in the vicinity of Dong Ha which had remained unoccupied by Marines for nearly a year. When a large North Vietnamese Army force launched an attack against elements of his battalion on the following day and his command post came under intense hostile mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, and small arms fire, pinning down his command group, he continued to maintain close contact with each of his units and issued orders for the tactical employment of his command. Undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of enemy fire, Lieutenant Colonel Schulze simultaneously coordinated and directed the actions of the headquarters group and inspired such an aggressive fighting spirit among his men that the North Vietnamese assault against his command post was repulsed and thirty-five enemy soldiers were killed. Under his dynamic leadership during the ensuing days of combat, he displayed such superb skill in directing decisive actions that by the time his phase of the operation was concluded on 22 June, 139 hostile soldiers had been killed, four prisoners taken, and numerous weapons captured. This decisive defeat of elements of two North Vietnamese Army battalions was instrumental in thwarting a planned enemy offensive against military installations and population centers in the Dong Ha and Cam Lo areas of Quang Tri Province. By his courage, superior leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Schulze upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.he President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Schulze, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 16 June 1969, during Operation VIRGINIA RIDGE, Lieutenant Colonel Schulze boldly led his battalion on an assault into Leatherneck Square, an area in the vicinity of Dong Ha which had remained unoccupied by Marines for nearly a year. When a large North Vietnamese Army force launched an attack against elements of his battalion on the following day and his command post came under intense hostile mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, and small arms fire, pinning down his command group, he continued to maintain close contact with each of his units and issued orders for the tactical employment of his command. Undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of enemy fire, Lieutenant Colonel Schulze simultaneously coordinated and directed the actions of the headquarters group and inspired such an aggressive fighting spirit among his men that the North Vietnamese assault against his command post was repulsed and thirty-five enemy soldiers were killed. Under his dynamic leadership during the ensuing days of combat, he displayed such superb skill in directing decisive actions that by the time his phase of the operation was concluded on 22 June, 139 hostile soldiers had been killed, four prisoners taken, and numerous weapons captured. This decisive defeat of elements of two North Vietnamese Army battalions was instrumental in thwarting a planned enemy offensive against military installations and population centers in the Dong Ha and Cam Lo areas of Quang Tri Province. By his courage, superior leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Schulze upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.