Richard James Brown

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Richard James Brown (2031415), Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company K, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam on 6 September 1967. During Operation SWIFT, Sergeant Brown’s unit was assigned the mission of aiding a Marine rifle company which was engaged with a numerically superior force of North Vietnamese Army Regulars in Quang Tin Province. Disregarding his own safety, Sergeant Brown unhesitatingly volunteered to lead a rescue detail forward of friendly lines to evacuate casualties and assist other Marines who were temporarily separated from their units. While maneuvering across the hazardous terrain, the rescue team came under increasingly heavy small-arms and automatic weapons fire and was forced to take cover in a nearby shell hole. As the Marines delivered effective return fire, an enemy hand grenade landed in the crater. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Brown ignored the danger to himself, picked up the deadly grenade and threw it out of the crater where it exploded. Although painfully wounded by grenade fragments, he continued to direct his unit’s return fire and, when superiority was gained, led his men in the search for casualties. After supervising the evacuation of several wounded comrades, he observed an enemy mortar delivering fire against Marine positions. Deploying his men, he skillfully led them against the hostile emplacement and quickly silenced the enemy mortar and a nearby machine gun position. Subsequently, he directed the withdrawal of his men to friendly lines and assisted in consolidating the defensive perimeter. His heroic and timely actions in the face of great personal danger were an inspiration to all who observed him and undoubtedly saved the lives of several fellow Marines. By his courage, outstanding professionalism and selfless devotion to duty, Sergeant Brown contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.