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completely withdrawn from the trap.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