SILVER STAR MEDAL to FIRST LIEUTENANT RICHARD M. PURNELL UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS For service as set forth in the following CITATION: FOR THE
PRESIDENT A. R. KIER MAJOR GENERAL,
U. S. MARINE CORPS ACTING
COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
the
For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity in action while serving with Company I, Third Battalion, Third
Marines, Third Marine Division during Operation Starlite near Chu Lai,
Republic of Vietnam on 18 August 1965. As Executive Officer of Company I,
First Lieutenant Purnell assumed command when his company commander was
killed in action during an attack against heavily fortified insurgent
communist (Viet Cong) enemy positions. Displaying calm courage and forceful
leadership, he quickly reorganized his company and aggressively continued
the attack to seize the assigned objective. Later that day his company was
assigned the mission of penetrating deep into enemy territory to relieve a
besieged Marine resupply column. During initial enemy contact,
approximately twenty-five percent of the company’s remaining personnel
became casualties. Pausing only long enough to reorganize and evacuate the
casualties, Lieutenant Purnell lead his company forward, driving through
enemy positions and inflicting heavy casualties. In the course of the
attack, Company I freed over fifty other Marines from an adjacent unit, who
were cut off from friendly forces, by the entrenched enemy. With resourcefulness
and determination, Lieutenant Purnell continued the search for the resupply
column for over six hours before being ordered to return to friendly lines
under the cover of darkness. Leading his company, he again passed through
enemy lines, bringing his dead and wounded with him. During the withdrawal
his company killed six more Viet Cong guerrillas. The personal bravery and
decisive actions take by Lieutenant Purnell in the face of great personal
danger resulted in a devastating defeat being inflicted upon the enemy. By
his courageous actions, inspiring leadership and loyal devotion to duty,
Lieutenant Purnell upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and
the United States Naval Service.
