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 Private First Class James Francis Purtell, United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Purtell distinguished himself on 9 May 1968, while serving as a Medical Aidman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. On that date, Company C was on a search and clear mission in Tam Ky district when they came under heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire from a company-sized element of North Vietnamese Army Regulars. During this initial burst of fire, a platoon sergeant was mortally wounded, and the company was forced to withdraw without retrieving his body. Private Purtell was a member of a five-man patrol which attempted to return under the heavy fire to reach the sergeant’s body. After moving only 40 meters the patrol was raked by withering fire and three members were wounded. Private Purtell treated the wounded men while still under this heavy fire, and dragged all three men over 200 meters to medical evacuation helicopters. The intense heat had caused twelve men to faint from heat exhaustion, and Private Purtell treated these men and carried them to the helicopters. His heroic actions had exhausted him also, but he refused to be evacuated, and continued to treat other wounded personnel. Only when he was physically unable to perform his duties did Private Purtell consent to seek medical aid. Private First Class Purtell’s heroic actions and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division and the United States Army.