The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Sergeant Philip E. Crowell (ASN: US-51544354), United States Army, for heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force while serving with Detachment A-342, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Crowell distinguished himself by valorous actions on 22 December 1966, while serving as Special Forces Advisor to a Vietnamese company during a search and destroy mission near the village of Bunard. When the unit received intense machine gun fire as it moved along a road, Sergeant Crowell unhesitatingly rushed to the front of the column to organize the men for a counterattack. Almost immediately, the Viet Cong began to fire mortar shells which temporarily halted his unit. Seeing that the hostile shelling was only going to inflict more casualties on his unit, Sergeant Crowell began to move forward and encouraged his men to follow. He led the men in a sweep into the enemy positions and routed the insurgents from their fortifications. As a result, mortar equipment and rice supplies were captured in nearby tunnel complexes. Sergeant Crowell’s heroic 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.