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 Platoon Sergeant Jesse Castillo (ASN: RA-56247294), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Platoon Sergeant Castillo distinguished himself by exceptionally gallant actions against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 21 August 1968, while serving with Company E, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Infantry Brigade (Separate), near the town of Di Linh, Republic of Vietnam. At 0230 hours his unit’s position came under intense mortar, rocket, automatic weapons and small arms fire, followed immediately with a ground attack by a numerically superior enemy force. Sergeant Castillo was severely wounded in the left shoulder by shrapnel from the initial rounds. Refusing medical attention, he repeatedly exposed himself to the murderous hostile fire to adjust his unit’s fire. While directing the counter mortar fire, he observed that the left flank of the perimeter was being penetrated. He moved through the deadly volume of fire toward the threatened portion of the perimeter and was wounded a second time. His courageous actions served to inspire the regimental forces occupying that portion of the perimeter to greater efforts in repelling the attacking enemy. Sergeant Castillo then moved toward a regimental force’s 60-mm. mortar that had been silenced by hostile fire. While moving toward the mortar position, he was wounded for a third time. Weak from loss of blood, he continued to ignore the great pain and proceeded to the mortar position. He then single-handedly commenced to deliver extremely accurate fire on the enemy positions. He remained in this exposed position to direct the fire of his own mortars. Sergeant Castillo then continued along the perimeter reorganizing and encouraging his men to greater efforts in repelling the enemy force. Sergeant Castillo’s conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his own life was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.