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 a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Major (Armor) Robert Andrew Hefford (ASN: 0-76209), United States Army, for gallantry in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with the 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade in the Republic of Vietnam on 18 April 1968. Major Hefford distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1H helicopter on a combat operation. Having monitored a transmission that an OH-6A scout helicopter had been shot down, he immediately volunteered to fly into the battle area in order to provide an alternate command and control aircraft. He began searching for a possible landing zone to insert a twenty-man force to attempt a rescue of the downed crew. By flying over the hostile positions, he continually placed his aircraft in the direct firing line of five enemy .50 caliber locations. Despite intense enemy fire, he selected a landing zone, escorted in the lift ships in his unarmed helicopter and directed the suppressive fires of armed helicopters on the hostile positions. When the ground commander reported that his small force was in danger of being overwhelmed, Major Hefford attacked the advancing enemy, flying through airstrikes that were exploding on all sides of his ship. As the airstrikes continued, the ground commander radioed that napalm was dropping too close to the friendly position. Major Hefford hovered his aircraft in the direct path of an Air Force fighter on short final for a napalm strike, thus causing the pilot to divert just seconds prior to the strike. As the enemy began to retreat, he pursued and attacked relentlessly. Monitoring a call from the lift helicopters that they were unable to make a complete extraction of the ground forces, he maneuvered his aircraft into the extremely small landing zone, picked up the remaining infantry elements, and flew through intense hostile ground fire to safety. His 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.