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 Sergeant Charles I. Wigton, United States Army, for gallantry in actions while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 12 August 1969 while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle commander with Troop E, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop E was conducting a reconnaissance mission when it was suddenly engaged by an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Sergeant Wigton held his crew together and placed machine gun fire on the enemy positions. L He then spotted an enemy rocket grenade team preparing to fire. L He ordered his driver to change directions and charged to with a few meters of the bunker, eliminating it with his machine gun. Later the commanding officers were seriously wounded and had to be evacuated. Sergeant Wigton immediately assumed command of the remaining force, controlling the fire and adjusting artillery and aerial bomb strikes. Sergeant Wigton’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.