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 First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Francis Richard Callahan, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force, on 1 November 1968, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Captain Callahan was serving as Battery Commander of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, at Fire Support Base RITA. During the morning, the friendly position was subjected to intense mortar, rocket, and recoilless rifle fire, and a ground assault by a North Vietnamese regiment. Captain Callahan immediately moved from one howitzer emplacement to another, rallying his men and directing their counterfires on the insurgents. The intensity of the enemy attack increased and the advancing hostile forces started to breach one side of the perimeter. Captain Callahan quickly directed his men to put forth direct close range fires on the assailants, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he moved about through the hail of incoming rounds to closely supervise the howitzer crews. Although the initial enemy assault was thwarted, the North Vietnamese launched a second attack and began to breach the weakened perimeter defenses. Captain Callahan rushed to the howitzer nearest the point of enemy penetration, and braved extremely intense recoilless rifle and rocket fire to place devastating howitzer fire at point blank range on the attackers. Although he was wounded by shrapnel, he continued his effective fire until he succeeded in halting the insurgents’ advance just short of his position. The extraordinary courage and professional demeanor displayed by Captain Callahan during the massive enemy attacks directly contributed to the successful defense of the besieged American position. Captain Callahan’s unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.