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 Charles Mitchell Demny (ASN: US-54512271), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Demny distinguished himself while serving as a Member of a Short Range Patrol with Company E, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. On 23 March 1969, Sergeant Demny was a member of a Short Range Patrol from Firebase ALAMO, west of Kontum. At 2130 hours the patrol was subjected to a fierce attack by an unknown size North Vietnamese force. The initial barrage consisted of Chicom grenades. Immediately, Sergeant Demny directed a heavy volume of M-16 fire on the enemy, contributing to their forced withdrawal. A short while later, the enemy soldiers launched a second attack, deploying multiple small arms, hand grenades, and B-40 rockets. Again, Sergeant Demny placed a heavy volume of fire on the enemy force. When the patrol leader was severely wounded, Sergeant Demny supplied a heavy volume of covering fire as another team member moved to his aid. This man was also seriously wounded and unable to move from his exposed position. Sergeant Demny, with complete disregard for his personal safety, maneuvered through the intense enemy fire to his wounded comrades. While exposed to the hostile fire, Sergeant Demny administered initial first aid and carried the more seriously wounded man to safety, more than 20 meters away. Once getting the wounded man to a relatively safe position, he returned to the other comrade and also carried him to safety. As soon as he got the wounded men to a secure area he began applying life-saving first aid. He then assumed command of the patrol, and directed the establishment of a base of counter-fire. Sergeant Demny’s extraordinary courage, perseverance, and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.