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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Tim A. Noe (ASN: RA-19841751), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force on 11 June 1966. On this date, Private First Class Noe’s company was alerted of the presence of two companies of Viet Cong in entrenched hilltop positions. The unit deployed to eliminate the insurgent force. Platoons on line, Company C was sweeping up the hill into the midst of a rubber plantation when they were suddenly engaged by a furious volume of Viet Cong fire. From their well-fortified emplacements the Viet Cong force concentrated the full firepower of small arms, automatic weapons, heavy machine guns, grenades and recoilless rifles on the small American unit. Private First Class Noe’s platoon and the reconnaissance platoon were in the direct line of this fire and both units rushed forward to a seemingly abandoned Viet Cong trench line to gain cover. The insurgents anticipated this move and had positioned a machine gun at one end of the trench. The murderous fire of this weapon now took a very heavy toll of the American defenders. The Viet Cong then hurled a barrage of hand grenades into the trench, came out of their bunkers, and assaulted the positions attempting to outflank and surround the men of Company C. Private First Class Noe and his machine gun crew were occupying a position in that trench approximately 25 meters from the Viet Cong fortifications. He and all his comrades were already wounded and many more dead and wounded lined both sides of the trench. In spite of his injury, Private First Class Noe remained at his weapon, effectively engaging the onrushing Viet Cong and urging his comrades to withdraw while he could still provide covering fire. Suddenly, a grenade rolled into the trench coming to rest at their feet. For a moment everyone froze. It was too late to pick up the grenade and throw it out of the trench. Disregarding his own life, Private First Class Noe threw himself on top of the grenade. A fraction of a second later his body absorbed the full blast of the explosion. He had voluntarily given his life to save those around him. Private First Class Noe’s unquestionable valor in close combat against a superior hostile force are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.