The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunner’s Mate Second Class David A. White (NSN: B-309023), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 8 November 1968, while serving as a gunner’s mate with River Division 593, during combat operations against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Vietnam. Petty Officer White was a member of a two-boat patrol which was employed as a blocking force for Vietnamese commandos on the narrow Song Nga Ba when both boats came under heavy rocket and automatic-weapons fire. In the first exchange of fire, the boat captain and two seamen were wounded. Reacting instantly, Petty Officer White immediately returned fire from his fifty-caliber machine gun. He then applied a battle dressing to the boat seaman’s serious head wound, gave him the extra protection of his own flak jacket, and put a battle dressing on the forward gunner’s hand wound. Seconds later, from very close range, two additional enemy rockets hit his craft, instantly killing the patrol officer and seriously wounding the already-wounded forward gunner. Additionally, Petty Officer White and the boat engineer both sustained multiple shrapnel wounds. Despite his own painful injuries, Petty Officer White, exposing himself to intense rocket and automatic-weapons fire, immediately rushed forward to aid the grievously-wounded forward gunner. After administering first aid to the casualty, Petty Officer White then pulled his wounded comrade out of the gun tub, laid him across the bow, and commenced firing the forward gun. When both boats had cleared the kill-zone, a rendezvous was made with a SEAWOLF helicopter for immediate medical evacuation of the two injured seamen. By his bold initiative, courage under fire, and selfless devotion to duty, Petty Officer White was instrumental in saving one man’s life and in preventing further injury to another. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.