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 Specialist Fourth Class Herbert R. Smith (ASN: US-53580328), United States Army, for gallantry in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 8 January 1969. Specialist Smith distinguished himself while serving as a fire team leader with the Third Platoon, Company B, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, near Nuc Ngot, Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Smith’s squad was deployed at an ambush site three hundred meters away from the rest of the platoon. At 2000 hours, the ambush was initiated on what appeared to be four North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Suddenly Specialist Smith’s unit received fire from all sides from a platoon of the enemy force. Making a quick appraisal of the situation, Specialist Smith shifted positions several times in order to locate the enemy’s exact position. He continually moved under grazing fire while directing his team to new positions to employ the 90 millimeter recoilless rifle it carried. In the course of the firefight, Specialist Smith spotted a wounded North Vietnamese soldier in an open area of the battlefield. Braving intense enemy fire, Specialist Smith ran to the wounded soldier and pulled him back to the friendly positions for evacuation as a source of intelligence. Specialist Smith’s conspicuous bravery and outstanding leadership were instrumental in the killing of seven enemy soldiers and the capture of two. Specialist Smith’s personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.