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 Major (Field Artillery) William B. Wilder (ASN: 0-86936), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Headquarters, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 11th Aviation Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam on 16 January 1969. Major Wilder distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as pilot of a command and control helicopter on a combat operation. An AH-1G helicopter had been shot down, and the aero-rifle platoon was inserted to secure and recover the bodies of the crew. The platoon was surrounded, and the enemy closed to within five meters of the perimeter. Throughout the night as the beleaguered unit fought off the enemy, Major Wilder, on three separate occasions, attempted to re-supply and evacuate the wounded, each time receiving a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire, forcing him to abort. Spotting several men who had become separated from the main body, he assisted in their rescue, virtually snatching them from the midst of the enemy. During subsequent airstrikes he continually flew low-level over the enemy positions, selecting new targets for air and gunship strikes. He then exposed himself to known enemy fire, as he attempted to extract the wounded personnel. Twice he hovered over the landing zone trying to lower his ship into the minute area. Finding that spot to be too small, he hovered over the river to determine suitable areas for extraction sites. Marking the selected sites with smoke, he flew in a circular pattern to draw fire, thereby determining if an extraction of the units was possible. Hovering over the pickup sites, he served as a marker for the friendly forces moving through the heavy jungle. Finally, intercepting the extraction aircraft, he led them into the extremely hazardous pickup zones and conducted the several extraction operations, although his fuel was almost exhausted. 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.