Richard F. Kiepfer

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Richard F. Kiepfer (710107/2105), Lieutenant (MC), U.S. Navy (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Medical Officer on board the U.S.S. LIBERTY (AGTR-5), in action in the Mediterranean Sea on 8 June 1967. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Lieutenant Kiepfer exposed himself to overwhelmingly accurate rocket and machine gun fire by going to different stations and compartments to administer first aid after sick bay became untenable and evacuated following a rocket hit. He treated men for pain, shock, and took emergency measures to control, hemorrhage and later performed a chest operation. After the torpedo hit, he organized personnel for removing the wounded in case of an order to abandon ship and made trips through some of the damaged areas to the medical storeroom for needed supplies. He conducted a major surgical operation, giving the anesthesia (spinal) himself . The actions of Lieutenant Kiepfer on this occasion were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.