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 Sergeant First Class James W. Hauck (ASN: RA-16478006), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Sergeant First Class Hauck distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 7 February 1969, while serving with Combined Studies Division, Headquarters, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. On that date he was accompanying a ten man provincial reconnaissance unit element. Immediately upon heliborne insertion into the target area, his element came under intense enemy fire from a Viet Cong platoon positioned fifty meters away. With complete disregard for his safety and under intense small arms fire, Sergeant Hauck led an assault on the Viet Cong positions, forcing the enemy to withdraw to the safety of a small wooded area where they repositioned themselves in well concealed positions. After placing his men in defensive positions he maneuvered to within twenty meters of the enemy positions from where he directed a helicopter gunship strike against them. After the strike he immediately assembled his unit and led another assault on the Viet Cong positions. As a result of his extraordinary bravery under enemy fire, outstanding leadership and tactical knowledge, his vastly outnumbered unit was responsible for annihilating fourteen Viet Cong and capturing nine, along with nine weapons and numerous documents. Sergeant First Class Hauck’s conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.