SERGEANT RICHARD A. PELKEY
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For meritorious service while serving as a Squad Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations agamst the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 15 July 1967 to 18 May 1968. During this period, Sergeant PELKEY performed his duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Upon learning of the battalion's proposed deployment to the Republic of Vietnam, he demonstrated superior leadership and loyalty by waiving his overseas control date in order to assist his company at a time when experienced personnel were critically needed. Because his unit consisted mostly of inexperienced personnel, he devoted many hours to the training of his men, molding them into an efficient, combat ready unit. Arriving in the Republic of Vietnam on 19 February 1968, he led over fifty patrols through heavily mined areas and participated in numerous company size operations. On 18 May during Operation Allen Brook, Company M became heavily engaged with a large North Vietnamese Army force in the village of Le Bac (2). Aggressively deploying his men, Sergeant PELKEY was seriously wounded by the intense enemy fire and subsequently medically evacuated. By his outstanding leadership, superb professionalism and unwavering devotion to duty throughout, Sergeant PELKEY upheld the finest traditions of the marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

Sergeant Pelkey is authorized to wear the Combat "V".