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 Warrant Officer One (WO-1) Anthony W. Fruge, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 18 June 1972, in the Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Fruge distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as pilot of a Light Observation Helicopter on a mission to search an area southeast of Pleiku for the purpose of locating the remains of a civilian airline crash. As Warrant Officer Fruge was conducting his search of the area, his aircraft received ground fire from an unknown number of enemy. The initial burst of automatic weapons fire wounded Warrant Officer Fruge and damaged the aircraft. He was forced to maneuver the helicopter to a close by pickup zone where he contacted other aircraft to inform them of his whereabouts. Warrant Officer Fruge’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.