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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Specialist Fifth Class Paul Arnold Hughes, United States Army, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with the 14th Engineer Battalion, 45th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fifth Class Hughes distinguished himself on 22 October 1969 while serving as Medical Aidman with an engineer unit in the Republic of Vietnam. That afternoon, while the unit was returning to its night defensive position near Fire Support Base Barbara, the column of construction vehicles was ambushed by a platoon of North Vietnamese troops in concealed positions overlooking the roadway. A rocket-propelled grenade struck the lead bulldozer, severely wounding the operator. Seeing the soldier struck down, Specialist Hughes rushed forward from his position in the rear of the column in order to aid his fallen comrade. With enemy rounds impacting all about him, Specialist Hughes fearlessly crawled along the open roadway toward the lead bulldozer. He had advanced about twenty-five meters when he was mortally wounded in the hail of enemy fire. Specialist Fifth Class Hughes’ gallantry in action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.