The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fifth Class John Frescura (ASN: RA-16825953), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Command and Control Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fifth Class Frescura distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 January 1968 while serving with a Special Forces reconnaissance patrol on combat operations in the town of Khe Sanh. Shortly after noon, while moving through the town, his unit’s point element was savagely attacked by a well-entrenched enemy force firing machine guns, automatic weapons and small arms. The vanguard was cut off from the main force and pinned down by the devastating fire. Specialist Frescura immediately directed his men to fighting positions along the road. Braving the withering enemy barrage, he repeatedly exposed himself to the insurgent emplacements to draw their fire and pinpoint their locations. When he learned that a soldier in the separated force was seriously wounded, he stood up and dashed through the murderous fusillade. Shielding the man with his own body, he treated his wounds and then aided another casualty. He next laid down a heavy base of fire on the enemy to cover the evacuation of the wounded. When he was sure that all the men of the point element were safe, he sprinted through a hail of bullets to reach the main force. The patrol then maneuvered to break contact, and Specialist Frescura remained behind and delivered intense suppressive fire on the North Vietnamese to prevent pursuit. As ambulance helicopters arrived to evacuate the casualties, he moved into the open and silenced enemy snipers firing from positions around the landing zone. Specialist Five Frescura’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.