SECOND LIEUTENANT RONALD R. BENOIT, United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on 25 February 1967. Second Lieutenant Benoit and his platoon were inserted by helicopter deep into hostile territory on a reconnaissance mission. He and half of his platoon were in the first helicopter which landed in a heavily booby trapped and mined area, and immediately came under intense enemy and small arms and .50 caliber machine gun fire. Quickly assessing the situation he exposed himself to the withering small arms fire to wave off the second helicopter. With extreme composure under fire, he immediately called for and directed artillery fire on the Viet Cong emplacements. Constantly exposed to enemy fire, he secured medical attention for his wounded, guided the second helicopter in and directed the evacuation of his wounded. While deploying the remainder of the platoon, a booby trap was detonated, killing one Marine and wounding others and rupturing the Second Lieutenant Benoit’s eardrums. At the same time his unit was hit again by intense enemy fire and although in extreme pain and almost totally deaf, he courageously and skillfully directed effective air strikes on the enemy. With the enemy fire supressed, enabling the helicopters to land again, he expertly supervised the loading of the wounded and only after his entire platoon had been embarked aboard the aircraft did he allow his own retraction. By his extraordinary initiative, uncommon courage and complete disregard for his own safety, he undoubtedly saved numerous Marine lives, reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Mr. Benoit joined the Legion of Valor in 1985.