The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class Ray Adam Archuletta (ASN: RA-17404497), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in action on 7 September 1967 near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Archuletta distinguished himself as his platoon was moving a wounded man to a landing zone to be extracted when they were suddenly brought under a tremendous volume of enemy automatic weapons fire. Seeing his machinegunner wounded, Sergeant Archuletta ordered his evacuation while he rushed forward with complete disregard for his own safety and in spite of the enemy fire to provide covering fire. As the wounded man was too heavy to be carried by the medic, Sergeant Archuletta again moved through the fire and helped carry him to the safety of a nearby wood line position. Nearing the wood line, Sergeant Archuletta was seriously wounded and in one last valiant effort he ordered the medic to take the wounded man to safety as he stayed behind and expended his ammunition to provide the covering fire. The outstanding gallantry, devotion to his fellow soldier, and his intense dedication to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Archuletta were in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.

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 Staff Sergeant Ray Adam Archuletta (ASN: RA-17404497), United States Army, for gallantry in action. While on a search and destroy mission the point element of the First Platoon, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, suddenly became engaged in a fire fight with an estimated enemy squad reinforced with a light machine gun. As the intensity of the enemy fire increased, Staff Sergeant Archuletta quickly determined the precarious situation of the point element. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Archuletta jumped to his feet and charged through the withering enemy automatic weapons fire to within approximately twenty feet of the enemy machine gun position and threw a hand grenade into the emplacement, knocking it out. Sergeant Archuletta continued to advance on the enemy position and captured the enemy automatic weapons that had been abandoned by the wounded enemy soldier. Sergeant Archuletta quickly returned to his squad and continued to expose himself to the withering enemy fire while deploying his squad and personally directing their fire. Sergeant Archuletta on several occasions moved through the tremendous volume of enemy fire and personally pulled some of his wounded comrades to covered positions. His actions saved the lives of several of his wounded comrades and enabled the platoon to successfully assault and overrun the determined enemy force. Sergeant Archuletta’s outstanding display of gallantry in action and his devotion to duty are within the highest military tradition and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Ray Adam Archuletta (ASN: RA-17404497), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in action on 25 August 1967 near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam. While conducting a search and destroy mission, the point squad and platoon leader of Staff Sergeant Archuletta’s platoon began receiving heavy enemy automatic weapons fire and were pinned down in an exposed rice paddy. Observing this, Sergeant Archuletta repeatedly exposed himself to the hail of enemy fire in order to properly position his men and direct their firepower. Seeing that the machinegunner and assistant machinegunner of the pinned down squad had both been wounded, Sergeant Archuletta, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, rushed forward through the heavy enemy automatic weapons fire to the machinegun position. After insuring that the wounded troopers were given proper medical attention and had been moved back to a safe position, he manned the machinegun and put out a heavy volume of firepower until running out of ammunition. Knowing that the machinegun was drastically needed in order to obtain superior fire power, Sergeant Archuletta fired his own rifle as he maneuvered from position to position in order to gather additional ammunition. After gathering the desperately needed ammunition, Sergeant Archuletta again opened up with the machinegun and was instrumental in saving one trooper’s life and repelling the vicious enemy assault. Staff Sergeant Archuletta’s outstanding display of gallantry and his devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect. great credit upon himself, and the Americal Division, and the United States Army.