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 Specialist Fourth Class Gary D Heath, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fourth Class Heath distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving with Company B, 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy when his unit came under attack and was surrounded by a numerically superior Viet Cong force. Assigned in a critical corner of the hastily formed perimeter, Specialist Fourth Class Heath incurred several painful wounds in both legs. He nevertheless continued to man his position, repelling the Viet Cong several times as they crept within 10 meters of his position. Learning that a machine gun position near him had been knocked out, he crawled through withering fire to reach the emplacement. Unable to walk, he disregarded his painful wounds and bravely manned the machine gun for the remainder of the battle. His daring was personally responsible for many enemy casualties, and he was instrumental in maintaining the critical northeast sector of the perimeter. Finally, due to the severity of his wounds, his own comrades forced him to be evacuated. Specialist Fourth Class Heath’s courage and unswerving devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.