For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as Squad Leader with Company G, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division.  On 12 August 1969, Lance Corporal Kass’s squad deployed with the First Platoon as a reaction force to assist the Second Platoon which was heavily engaged in combat with a numerically superior hostile force utilizing antitank rockets and small arms fire.  Upon reaching the beleaguered unit. Lance Corporal Kass boldly led his men through the friendly lines to the points of heaviest contact and, deploying his men into effective fighting positions on high ground, directed their fire on suspected enemy emplacements, allowing the Second Platoon to move to covered locations.  After sighting enemy targets and assessing the situation, he initiated an aggressive assault against the hostile soldiers but immediately came under intense enemy fire and sustained casualties.  With complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Kass, identifying a well-concealed sniper emplacement as a principal source of enemy fire, boldly charged across the fire-swept terrain and, hurling hand grenades, killed two enemy soldiers, silencing the fire from that point.  Ignoring the hostile rounds impacting around him, he then fearlessly maneuvered among the casualties to encourage them and render first aid.  Having breached the enemy line by his lone assault, he thus enabled the remainder of the platoon to overrun the position and destroy the enemy.  Lance Corporal Kass’s courage aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk inspired all who observed him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.