Medal of Honor Citation RALPH ELLIS DIAS
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
3d Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine
Division (Rein) FMF.
Place and Date: Que Son Mountains, Republic of Vietnam, 12 November
1969.
Entered Service at: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Born : 15 July 1950, Shelocta, Indiana County, Pa.
As a member of a reaction force which was pinned down by
enemy fire while assisting a platoon in the same circumstance,
Pfc. Dias, observing that both units were sustaining casualties,
initiated an aggressive assault against an enemy machinegun
bunker which was the principal source of hostile fire. Severely
wounded by enemy snipers while charging across the open area,
he pulled himself to the shelter of a nearby rock. Braving
enemy fire for a second time, Pfc. Dias was again wounded.
Unable to walk, he crawled 15 meters to the protection of
a rock located near his objective and, repeatedly exposing
himself to intense hostile fire, unsuccessfully threw several
hand grenades at the machinegun emplacement. Still determined
to destroy the emplacement, Pfc. Dias again moved into the
open and was wounded a third time by sniper fire. As he threw
a last grenade which destroyed the enemy position, he was
mortally wounded by another enemy round. Pfc. Dias' indomitable
courage, dynamic initiative, and selfless devotion to duty
upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the
U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service
to his country.
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