The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Homer T. Hodge, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as a member of Company B, 7th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group. Second Lieutenant Hodge distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 April 1969 while conducting psychological operations as part of the Americal Division’s rural pacification program. That evening he and his small team were showing information films to the people of Sa Huynh Village in Quang Ngai Province. A gathering of several hundred was viewing the films in the village schoolyard when a white phosphorus mortar round impacted just feet away and automatic weapons fire began raking the assembly area. Popular Forces troops who had set up a security cordon about the gathering returned fire but were being pushed back by the mounting intensity of Viet Cong fire power. Realizing that many innocent civilians would be killed if the attackers overran the village, Lieutenant Hodge charged the advancing foe with heavy rifle fire, at the same time loudly exhorting the withdrawing security force to join his assault. As he neared the defensive wire, he encountered the first infiltrators and instantly cut them down with deadly bursts of rifle fire. Re-spirited by Lieutenant Hodge’s aggressive actions, the citizen-soldiers followed his lead in pushing back the attacking Viet Cong and re-securing the perimeter. Second Lieutenant Hodge’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.