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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Joseph William Cox, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 20 August 1969, while serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while supervising the cutting of a dense nipa palm thicket, Captain Cox discovered an enemy soldier concealed in the vegetation. The man quickly surrendered and agreed to lead the friendly element to the location of more hostile troops. As Captain Cox led a squad of his men in search of the enemy soldiers, the element suddenly came under intense automatic weapons fire. Realizing that the thick nipa palm prevented his men from effectively engaging the enemy, he opened fire with his machine gun and charged the hostile position. As a result of his fearless assault, the enemy troops threw down their weapons and surrendered. Captain Cox’s outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.