The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Armor) Raymond E. Speicher (ASN: 0-523336), United States Army, for gallantry in action. First Lieutenant Speicher distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 4 March 1968, while serving as Platoon Leader on a search and destroy mission near Tuy Hoa, with Company D, 16th Armor, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). When the company came under fire from well dug in and numerically superior enemy forces of the 5th Battalion, 95th North Vietnamese Army Regiment and the 85th Main Force Viet Cong Battalion, Lieutenant Speicher moved his platoon forward toward the enemy position. As his armored personnel carrier approached the enemy, it was hit by B-40 rocket fire and the explosion threw Lieutenant Speicher off the vehicle. Lieutenant Speicher refused evacuation and with complete disregard for his own safety, got onto another armored personnel carrier and continued to fight. He placed a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy position, which enabled the wounded to withdraw to safety. During this time, her personally accounted for twenty enemy kills. When Lieutenant Speicher saw that another armored personnel carrier commander was coming to join the fight, he left the vehicle upon which he was riding and joined another armored personnel carrier. Throughout the battle which ensued, Lieutenant Speicher personally directed the fire of his platoon while repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire. His extraordinary heroism was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.