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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Robert Francis Brulte, Jr. (ASN: 0-5346536), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 15 February 1968 while serving as Platoon Leader of the 3d Platoon of Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, during a combat patrol eight kilometers northwest of Hue, Republic of Vietnam. Lieutenant Brulte was leading his platoon, the lead element of Delta Company, when his men were taken under sniper fire. Under orders, he maintained his advance, and his platoon was shortly caught under the withering hail of enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. In the initial contact with his platoon suffered many casualties but Lieutenant Brulte, exposing himself to enemy fire, formed a defensive position and maintained complete control of his men while calling in supporting fire on the enemy position. It was soon evident that Lieutenant Brulte’s platoon was being fired on by an estimated North Vietnamese Company, well entrenched and dug in around a small hamlet. While waiting for reinforcements to come forward to assist him in extricating his men from a totally untenable position, Lieutenant Brulte continued to demonstrate supreme valor in exposing himself to enemy fire in order to adjust the artillery supporting fire to cover his men. Indeed it was his dedication to his men and his devotion to his men and his devotion to duty which found him so exposed when he was struck down and mortally wounded by enemy fire. Yet despite grievous wounds Lieutenant Brulte continued to relay fire mission coordinates over his radio until he expired. Lieutenant Brulte’s exceptional valor and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.