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 Warrant Officer One (WO-1) Stephen Boyer Peth (ASN: W-3160537), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with the 159th Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade. Warrant Officer Peth distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 and 11 December 1968, while piloting an ambulance helicopter near Trung Lap. Arriving at the location of a seriously wounded infantryman, Mister Peth made a low-level approach to avoid detection by the enemy and then began maneuvering through trees, tall bushes and other obstacles into the pickup site. Intense hostile fire erupted from nearby positions, but the evacuation was successfully completed. At twilight the same unit requested evacuation for four more wounded, but it was in heavy contact with the enemy and unable to secure a landing zone. The patients were safely extracted while the ground troops placed suppressive fire on hostile positions in a treeline seventy-five meters away. During the night the North Vietnamese launched a heavy mortar, rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons attack, causing several casualties. Early in the morning, after flying missions for other units in the same area, Mister Peth and his fellow crew members agreed to attempt a pickup, although illumination rounds would silhouette the aircraft and incoming small arms fire was still being received. As the helicopter touched down it met heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire. When the eight casualties had been loaded and the ship had left the landing zone, it came under an accurate enemy fusillade, scoring several hits and wounding the aircraft commander. Struggling with the controls, Mister Peth wrested the helicopter upright and flew away under continuing hostile fire. Warrant Officer Peth’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.