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 Specialist Fourth Class Jackie Everrette Bolen, Jr. (ASN: 11607125), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam, on 9 October 1967. On this date, during Operation SHENANDOAH II, Specialist Bolen was serving as a rifleman with his unit on a search and destroy mission. While moving through a dense jungle, Specialist Bolen, the point man, came face to face with the point element of a hostile force. He immediately engaged the insurgents with a heavy volume of small arms fire, killing two Viet Cong. Suddenly, he received heavy small arms fire from a hidden Viet Cong platoon. The remainder of Specialist Bolen’s squad then moved forward, the Viet Cong fire shifted toward them and pinned them down behind a fallen tree. While the volume of fire increased on the then immobile squad, Specialist Bolen exposed himself and maneuvered to the enemy’s flank. From his exposed position he then placed devastating fire into the surprised Viet Cong force. As most of his squad was wounded, he remained in his exposed position and continued to direct highly effective fire which enabled his wounded comrades to be evacuated. His courage and determination undoubtedly saved many of his comrades’ lives. Specialist Bolen remained in his position until the Viet Cong force had been neutralized. Specialist Fourth Class Bolen’s unquestionable against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.