The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Jerald Bill Gartman (MCSN: 0-91496), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-165), Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Six, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 6 March 1968, Captain Gartman launched as Co-Pilot of the lead aircraft in a flight of two CH-46 helicopters assigned to insert a United States Army Special Forces reconnaissance team into enemy controlled territory. Heavily damaged by hostile ground fire as it hovered to lower members of the team through the dense jungle growth, the aircraft crashed and burst into flames. Sustaining severe leg injuries and temporarily rendered unconscious, Captain Gartman recovered to find he could not free himself from his seat in the crushed cockpit. Observing the pilot critically injured and also trapped, he called for help. Subsequently freed from the cockpit by the aerial gunner, he worked feverishly in an attempt to extricate the unconscious pilot. Forced to abandon his rescue efforts by the intensity of the flames and smoke from the burning aircraft, he entered the helicopter cabin and fought the blaze in a valiant attempt to extinguish the fire and rescue the pilot and remaining passengers trapped in the aircraft. When ammunition and grenades began detonating, he left the aircraft and, with the assistance of the aerial gunner, maneuvered to a position of relative safety. Hearing a cry for assistance in the vicinity of the aircraft, Captain Gartman ignored the intense heat and the danger of further explosions as he assisted in pulling an injured soldier to a covered position just as the aircraft’s fuel tanks exploded and covered the area with flaming debris. Utilizing the survival radio, Captain Gartman requested an evacuation helicopter and was subsequently extracted from the hazardous area and transported to the Phu Bai medical facility. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Gartman upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.