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 pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fifth Class Mark L. Atchison, III (ASN: RA-27680956), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Detachment A-311, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fifth Class Atchison distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 May 1967 while serving as Special Forces Advisor to a Vietnamese platoon during a search and destroy mission near My Phuoc Tay. Specialist Atchison was separated from the rest of his company and led his platoon across a canal to provide security and to search the opposite bank as the entire force advanced. After following the canal for 200 meters, he took his platoon to search a hamlet. The men were 50 meters from the canal tree line when Viet Cong opened fire with rifles and machine guns. Since the platoon was caught in the open, Specialist Atchison immediately shouted for his men to assault the insurgents. The intense fire stopped his unit before it could reach the enemy positions, but Specialist Atchison moved into the open and initiated a second assault. Although six other men around him were wounded, he continued alone until he was forced to dive for cover 20 meters from the Viet Cong. He crawled to the side of a wounded soldier, treated his wound, and dragged him to safety. Out of the line of fire, he organized his men for another assault and overran the numerically superior enemy. Specialist Fifth Class Atchison’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.