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 [then Specialist Fourth Class] Gary Gordon Hahn (ASN: US-56697359), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 6 December 1967 while serving as a squad leader with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light), in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, while participating in a search and destroy operation, Specialist Hahn was leading his squad along a tree line when two Viet Cong soldiers were observed in the dense underbrush. Immediately placing fire upon the insurgents’ position, Specialist Hahn deployed his men and began a flanking assault on the enemy. Simultaneously, the main body of Specialist Hahn’s unit began to receive intense fire from a battalion size Viet Cong force in strongly fortified bunkers and was unable to move. Leading his men to the enemy’s flank, he directed the placement of such an intense volume of fire that the pressure on his beleaguered comrades was relieved, enabling them to regain the momentum of their assault. He courageously led his squad through the enemy fire in an assault against the hostile force until he was struck in the arm by small arms fire and thrown to the ground. He continued to move forward, firing his weapon and urging his squad members in their assault. Throwing grenades in an attempt to overrun an enemy bunker, he was again thrown to the ground when struck by enemy automatic weapons fire. Weakened by his wounds and unable to rise, he dauntlessly crawled forward, firing as he moved. He had advanced to within fifteen meters of the enemy position when he was struck by enemy fire a third time and mortally wounded. As a result of his inspiring leadership and gallant actions, his squad continued in the attack until the enemy bunker was destroyed. Specialist Fourth Class Hahn’s gallantry in action 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.