The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Robert Royce Scarbrough, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 16 April 1969, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Scarbrough was in command of a column of assault craft transiting the Ben Tre River. Suddenly attacked with heavy enemy weapons fire from fortified bunkers concealed along the narrow tree-lined river, Refueler 112-1, carrying twelve-hundred gallons of gasoline, received a direct rocket hit in the well deck and burst into flames. With total disregard for his own safety, he persistently remained at his topside position, exposing himself to the enemy fire in order to direct a counterattack on the hostile positions. He quickly suppressed the attack and moved his column clear of the ambush zone. As Refueler 112-1 had become a raging holocaust, he ordered the craft beached and the crew evacuated while simultaneously radioing for medical evacuation of the wounded personnel and requesting damage control assistance. Upon the arrival of pumps, hoses and foam, he shifted his location to a flat top configured Armored Troop Carrier and took command of fire fighting efforts. Utilizing the elevated flight deck as a platform from which to fight the fire, he remained conspicuously exposed to renewed enemy attack as well as the gasoline-fed flames as he continuously directed his craft about the flaming refueler. He ignored the detonations and shrapnel from ammunition exploding, successfully stifled the conflagration and salvaged the stricken craft. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Scarbrough’s command presence, superior judgment, and courageous and heroic conduct were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.