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 Sergeant First Class Christopher J. Garland (ASN: RA-12307319), United States Army, for gallantry in action while conducting military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Garland distinguished himself while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. On 6 February 1968, Sergeant Garland’s platoon was conducting a reconnaissance in force mission near Plei Gao Gen when it encountered a reinforced North Vietnamese Company in fortified bunkers. The armored platoon was taken under fire by an extremely intense volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire coupled with the enemy’s intense use of B-40 antitank rockets and mortars. After Insuring the Platoon had initiated appropriate counter-action, Sergeant Garland dismounted and, under extremely intense fire, moved to a second, temporarily disabled armored personnel carrier. Upon reaching the second vehicle he immediately reorganized the squad members and directed the moving of the wounded Personnel to the carrier. Still under heavy enemy fire, he calmly and efficiently repaired the vehicle’s exposed and disabled .50 caliber machine gun. He then moved the personnel carrier through a heavy brush fire and again dismounted to recover two more wounded comrades. During the entire encounter, Sergeant Garland was under direct, extremely voluminous enemy fire. Because of his professional and courageous acts, the enemy company was destroyed and numerous friendly lives were saved. Sergeant Garland’s extraordinary heroism, superb leadership and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.