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 Luis G. Gomez-Mesa (ASN: US-51623409), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Gomez distinguished himself by intrepid actions on 1 September 1968, while serving as a squad leader in the first platoon of Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, on a combat assault mission near the village of Phuoc Bing Tay (2). On that date, heavy contact was made with a large North Vietnamese Army force. During the initial burst of hostile fire, Sergeant Gomez’s element sustained many casualties, and was given the responsibility of securing a landing zone so the wounded could be evacuated. On the west side of the landing zone there was an enemy machinegun position preventing the dust off helicopter from coming int. Sergeant Gomez quickly evaluated the situation and deployed his squad to destroy the enemy machinegun. While crossing an open area the point man was seriously wounded, and was isolated from the rest of the element by intense enemy fire. Despite the withering fire, Sergeant Gomez crawled out to reach his wounded comrades, exposing himself to the hail of enemy fire. While carrying the wounded man through the dense terrain, he discovered an enemy soldier between him and his squad. Sergeant Gomez acted immediately and successfully engaged and killed the enemy. Sergeant Gomez’s repeated acts of gallantry and devotion to duty while engaged in close combat with a hostile force were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division and the United States Army.