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 Fourth Class James A. Graham, United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 30 December 1968, while serving as a helicopter door gunner with the 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, while his aircraft was returning from a routine reconnaissance mission, Specialist Graham observed and killed an enemy soldiers. After the pilot landed the aircraft, he, the crew chief and Specialist Graham disembarked and advanced on the suspected enemy positions. Suddenly they began receiving heavy and accurate sniper fire from a well-concealed enemy soldier. While the pilot crawled forward to silence the enemy position, Specialist Graham, disregarding his own safety, assumed a fully exposed position in order to provide accurate covering fire for the pilot. When the hostile fire in the immediate area had been silenced, the small friendly force set up a defensive position and held off the numerically superior enemy force for half an hour until friendly reinforcements arrived. Specialist Fourth Class Graham’s courage and dedication to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.