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 Sergeant First Class Edward Jan Cox (ASN: 15261768), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Cox distinguished himself on 24 January 1966 while serving as platoon sergeant to a unit on a search and destroy operation in the vicinity of Tuy Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Cox’s platoon, while advancing across an open rice paddy, came under heavy Viet Cong fire. The Viet Cong were in well concealed and fortified positions with excellent fields of fire. During the initial engagement, one man was seriously wounded and fell to the ground in the direct line of fire from the Viet Cong. With complete disregard for his personal safety while exposed to the intense hostile fire, Staff Sergeant Cox left his position of relative safety and ran to the aid of his wounded comrade. He was continuously exposed to the hostile fire as he carried the wounded man to a position of safety. After applying first aid to the wounded man, Staff Sergeant Cox moved to rejoin his unit which was deploying against the Viet Cong stronghold. While moving to this position, he was mortally wounded. Staff Sergeant Cox’s unimpeachable valor in close combat against a numerically superior Viet Cong force was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.