The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fourth Class John S. Montgomery, United States Army, for gallantry in actions while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 9 August 1969 while serving as a rifleman with the Aero Rifle Platoon of the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date he volunteered to participate in a mission to capture several enemy soldiers spotted in an area west of An Loc. After being inserted by a light observations helicopter, Specialist Montgomery helped secure the landing zone so that another helicopter could bring in more troops. He then assumed the point position and began moving through the dense jungle. As he advanced, he came upon two enemy soldiers. After he had persuaded them to surrender, the two prisoners led him to a third enemy soldier, who was discovered to be the commanding officer of the hostile force operating in the area. After the third prisoner had been secure, Specialist Montgomery set out to capture two more hostile troops who had been seen crossing a nearby river. Disregarding his own safety, he dashed into the river, seized one of the armed soldiers and killed the other before he could escape to the other side. Specialist Four Montgomery’s courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.