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 Staff Sergeant Robert M. Lierd (ASN: RA-19688976), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 29 February 1968, while serving as Medical Advisor, 3d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, the Battalion was on a search and destroy operation in Sadec Province, Republic of Vietnam, when it came under automatic weapons and small arms fire from an estimated Viet Cong company. During the six-hour battle, Sergeant Lierd repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire while treating and protecting wounded Vietnamese soldiers. On one occasion, Sergeant Lierd fired an automatic weapon to support an attack on the enemy forces and his volume of fire was directly responsible for the friendly unit being able to move. When informed that a wounded Vietnamese soldier was lying to the front in an exposed position, Sergeant Lierd unhesitatingly crawled forward and moved the man to safety. He then moved about the area searching for other wounded soldiers. He protected the wounded soldiers by throwing hand grenades on the enemy positions. Staff Sergeant Lierd’s conspicuous 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.