The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Corporal William Ray Street (ASN: RA-19853599), United States Army, for gallantry in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 7 October 1968. Corporal Street distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader in Company B, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, near Trung Lap, Republic of Vietnam. While moving as the lead element of the platoon across an open rice paddy toward a thatched hut, his squad came under heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire from a hedgerow where part of a battalion size force of North Vietnamese Army Regulars were hidden. Shouting for his squad to drop in place, Corporal Street directed his en to return effective fire against the fortified enemy positions. Seeing that his squad was in a very vulnerable position he ordered his men to follow him as he crawled to the thatched hut, but was seriously wounded during this movement. Completely disregarding his wound, he continued to move until he reached the relative safety of the thatched hut. Upon reaching his destination, he provided a heavy base of fire to allow his men to reach safety. Before any of his men could reach his position, two well-camouflaged enemy soldiers took him under fire from a small woodline approximately ten meters behind him. Immediately locating their position, he rushed the fortified emplacement, completely ignoring the heavy fire directed against him, and silenced it with automatic fire from his M-16 rifle and hand grenades. This action undoubtedly saved the lives of several of his men who were completely without cover. Not until the enemy had been routed did he allow himself to be evacuated for medical treatment. Corporal Street’s personal bravery 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.