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 the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Fred Allen Gassman (ASN: RA-266-80-9751), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with RT Fer De Lance, Command and Control Detachment, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in the Republic of Vietnam, Sergeant Gassman distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry in action on 24 September 1970 while serving on a long-range reconnaissance patrol operating deep within enemy-held territory. The team was preparing to move out of their night defensive position on the morning of 24 September 1970 when they were compromised by an enemy force of undetermined size. In the ensuing firefight, Sergeant Gassman moved without hesitation to an area of intense enemy fire to aid two commandos. A grenade thrown into their position by the enemy killed on commando and wounded the other, but miraculously Sergeant Gassman escaped injury. He ignored the enemy fire to aid the wounded commando in safely withdrawing to a more secure position. Finding the man not seriously injured, he returned to find the other commando beyond medical help. Sergeant Gassman, realizing the value of the equipment left behind during the team’s withdrawal, returned to gather all remaining equipment before returning on the last trip with the body of the dead commando. The team leader then called in air strikes on the enemy positions so the team could be safely extracted. Sergeant Gassman’s actions during this period were instrumental in saving one commando’s life and in recovering equipment of value to the enemy if left behind. Sergeant Gassman’s conspicuous gallantry was in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit on him, the Special Forces, and the United States Army.