Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant [then Sergeant]

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    13th Artillery Regiment

    Division:

    II Field Force

    Action Date:

    October 3, 1968

    Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam, General Orders No. 4892 (October 21, 1968)

    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 Staff Sergeant [then Sergeant] Ronald David Horn (ASN: 18659907), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Battalion, 13th Artillery Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Horn distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 October 1968 when a large combined North Vietnamese/Viet Cong force launched a surprise assault on his battalion’s night defensive position in Tay Ninh Province. Sergeant Horn unhesitatingly moved to a vantage point from which he could better observe the action and call in artillery fire. Disregarding his safety, he stood fully exposed to the enemy fusillade as he calmly directed counterfire to within thirty meters of his own position. Seeing that the aggressors’ anti-aircraft guns were denying re-supply helicopters access to the battalion’s position, he quickly silenced them with devastating artillery fire. Re-supply ammunition was then dropped by helicopter but it fell outside the perimeter. Sergeant Horn immediately proceeded to retrieve part of the badly needed material. While he was personally redistributing the ammunition to forward positions he was mortally wounded. His efforts to secure ammunition was instrumental in repulsing the attackers. Sergeant Horn’s gallantry in action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.