The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the

SILVER STAR MEDAL to

                     RONALD C. MOSBAUGH

    HOSPITAL CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS

                        UNITED STATES NAVY

For service as set forth in the following

CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 19 September 1966, while serving with the first platoon, Company H, 2d Battalion, Ist Marines, in the Republic of Vietnam. Engaged with his platoon in a search and destroy mission in the village of Vinh Hoa when the unit came under extremely accurate small-arms and automatic­weapons fire which wounded one Marine, Petty Officer Mosbaugh, moving under intense sniper fire to the wounded man who was isolated in a rice paddy, rendered medical aid and remained with him until the latter was evacuated. Later that day, the platoon was attacked as it moved through a graveyard and was divided, by the Viet Cong, into three separate elements. Noticing that the rear element was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy and was sustaining casualties, Petty Officer Mosbaugh removed his cartridge belt and weapon to save time and weight, and ran, under intense fire, to the Isolated and nearly - surrounded rear squad. As the fighting continued, he treated the wounded, prepared casualties for evacuation, and then, picking up the rifle of one of the casualties, placed himself in the squad perimeter to protect the wounded. As a result of the overall action, approximately twenty-eight Viet Cong were killed or wounded. By his daring actions and loyal devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk, Petty Officer Mosbaugh upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Ronald C. Mosbaugh