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 Private First Class Donald Raymond Young (ASN: US-51614765), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 27 April 1967 while assigned to Company E, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light), in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Private First Class Young was serving with his platoon which was conducting a search and destroy operation near the village of Tan Nuit. Approaching a canal surrounded by dense vegetation, the unit suddenly came under intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire from a well-entrenched Viet Cong force. The platoon suffered immediate casualties and its left flank was pinned down by machinegun fire coming from a reinforced Viet Cong bunker. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Private Young disregarded his own safety and began to crawl toward the bunker with the intent of neutralizing the threat to his comrades. After moving over forty meters under intense fire, he was painfully wounded in his left shoulder. Undaunted and without regard to the enemy bullets striking all around him, he continued his valiant efforts until he was again hit and mortally wounded. Private First Class Young’s unwavering courage and concern for the welfare of his comrades were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.