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 Second Lieutenant Richard Grokenberger, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 18 August 1969 while serving as Assistant Battalion Advisor of the 3d Battalion, 46th Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. On this ate, the 3d Battalion was conducting a combined airmobile operation with the 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry and had inserted a platoon in the vicinity of Long Dinh Hamlet, when the unit began receiving intense grenade, small arms and rocket fire from three bunkers thirty feet to its front. Lieutenant Grokenberger fearlessly exposed himself to the hostile fire to locate the bunkers for the gunships and direct their strikes. He then withdrew to aid his comrades in organizing and securing a pickup zone for two soldiers wounded in the initial contact. As the battle progressed, Lieutenant Grokenberger, disregarding his own safety, moved forward again to an exposed position on the enemy’s flank and continued to direct gunships. Re-entering the contact area, the platoon encountered sporadic small arms fire, but a final assault and sweep of the are accounted for twenty-two enemy soldiers killed. First Lieutenant Grokenberger’s conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.