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 Donnie S. Colwell (ASN: US-52862090), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 26 March 1970. Sergeant Colwell was serving as Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle Commander of the medic vehicle with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Troop A and an attached infantry company were acting as a reactionary force for a company of infantrymen trapped northwest of Fire Support Base Illingworth. As Troop A and the attached infantry company entered the contact area, they immediately shielded the survivors of the infantry company and began to receive intense rocket-propelled grenade, small arms and automatic weapons fire from two companies of North Vietnamese soldiers entrenched in a bunker complex. As the assault line was formed, a Soldier directed attention to the left and well in front of the line of vehicles where two infantrymen had been hit. Sergeant Colwell joined a medic who went immediately to the two infantrymen. Despite enemy incoming fire, he crawled forward of the infantrymen and provided covering fire. He continued to provide covering fire while the medic crawled from the first infantryman to the second, determining that both were dead. Sergeant Colwell engaged the enemy while he crawled to the medic’s new position and with complete disregard for his personal safety, helped the medic drag the bodies back to the aid station. One hour after the assault began, a rocket propelled grenade struck a nearby tank, killing the sergeant and damaging the vehicle. Sergeant Colwell, while under enemy fire, bravely climbed onto the still-smoking tank and attempted to operate the tank’s .50 caliber machine gun, inspiring the crewmen and nearby infantrymen to move forward and engage the enemy. He then repeatedly guided wounded crewmen and infantrymen under enemy fire to the aid station for care. Sergeant Colwell’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.