SILVER STAR

In the name of the President of the United States, the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

 CAPTAIN RICHARD EDWARD MARESCO

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following

 CITATION:

           For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Company Commander of Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam on 26 January 1967. While providing security for an engineer reconnaissance team during Operation DeSoto, the point platoon of Company K was temporarily pinned down by intense enemy fire from cement bunkers which were located across a nearby river. Because the platoon’s elements had become separated, the unit was unable to gain fire superiority over the enemy forces. As the situation became worse and casualties began to increase, Captain MARESCO left the headquarters group and joined the beleaguered point platoon. Immediately, he called for air strikes, naval gunfire and mortars on the entrenched enemy. Fearlessly, Captain MARESCO continually exposed himself to hostile fire in order to adjust the delivery of supporting arms fire. Disregarding the heavy volume of automatic weapons fire directed at his position, he repeatedly raced across an open road to issue orders to the men on his left flank. During the ensuing six-hour fire fight, Captain MARESCO continually moved from position to position, encouraging his men and directing their fire on the enemy. In addition, he intentionally exposed himself to enemy fire to direct the enemy’s fire away from a medical evacuation team that was attempting to remove a wounded Marine. After the casualties had been evacuated, Captain MARESCO organized an orderly tactical retrograde movement, remaining in his forward position to call in supporting fires until the point platoon had completely withdrawn from the trap. Only then did he return to the relative safety of the headquarters element. By his courageous fighting spirit, unfaltering devotion to duty and exceptional leadership, Captain MARESCO upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

FOR THE PRESIDENT,

V. H. KRULAK

LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS

COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC