In Tribute to one of the best. Always remember, Never forget. Semper Fi!
Tramp said:I've only sent this to a few people in the forum. Thought you'd like to see.
The President of the United States takes pleasure in
presenting the BRONZE STAR MEDAL to
LANCE CORPORAL RICHARD V. STABILE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For heroic achievement in connection with operations
against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving
with United States Marine Special Forces attached to
Company K, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines.
On 14 November 1969, the elite force was
conducting a search and destroy operation in the vicinity of
Phong Phu, Quang Tin Province, when Lance
Corporal Stabile, who was positioned at the front of the
tactical column, sighted North Vietnamese Army soldiers
and took them under fire accounting for three enemy soldiers
confirmed killed. Almost immediately, the company came
under intense .50 caliber machine gun and small arms fire
from a well-concealed enemy force. Disregarding his own
safety, Lance Corporal Stabile maneuvered his M-60
machine gun to the point of heaviest contact and observed
that the enemy's .50 caliber machine gun, which had the
Marines pinned down, was firing from inside a NV hootch. He
crawled forward through the intense enemy fire until he
reached a position close to the structure. He then exposed
himself as he delivered suppressive and cover fire for
another Marine who threw a hand grenade into the enemy
emplacement and silenced it. Observing six North
Vietnamese Army soldiers, Lance Corporal Stabile
immediately fired upon them and was instrumental in
accounting for five enemy soldiers confirmed killed.
At great risk to himself, he stood upright and ran to the
aid of a wounded Marine, administered first aid,
retrieved a box of M-60 ammunition and, disregarding
his personal safety, carried the Marine approximately 200 meters
to Landing Zone 33beta for extraction by a UH-1E gunship.
The waiting gunship came under heavy, hostile fire, wounding the
door gunner and forcing the Huey to prematurely exit the LZ
leaving Lance Corporal Stabile exposed to enemy fire in open terrain.
Lance Corporal Stabile, unhesitatingly, provided heavy, sustained
cover fire to allow the safe extraction of the wounded Marine and gunship
and accounted for two additional enemy soldiers confirmed killed.
Lance Corporal Stabile’s courageous actions, bold initiative, and total
dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and
were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine
Corps and the United States Naval Service.
The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.
For the President
JOHN J. HYLAND
Admiral, U. S. Navy
Commander in Chief U. S. Pacific Fleet