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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard L. Gerding (ASN: 0-5334065), United States Army, for gallantry in action. First Lieutenant Gerding distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 3 March 1968, while serving as a Platoon Leader for the 2d Platoon, Company B, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). On a search and destroy operation in the Province of Kontum, Lieutenant Gerding having killed two North Vietnamese personnel earlier that day, moved his platoon five hundred meters to the north of the original contact. Advancing another eight hundred meters, the platoon began noticing many signs of enemy activity. Shortly thereafter, they came under heavy automatic weapons fire and a rocket attack. The enemy, approximately ten meters to the front, was entrenched in a reinforced mutually supporting bunker complex. Two men of the point element were seriously wounded in the initial volley of fire. Lieutenant Gerding and his radio operator were lightly wounded and a fifth man was mortally wounded. Seeing the two point men lying wounded and at the mercy of the enemy fire, Lieutenant Gerding moved forward in an attempt to aid them but was wounded in the right leg by a sniper, whom he returned fire upon and killed. Upon reaching one of his men, he began treating him in a futile effort to save his life. As the intensity of the battle increased, he closed his platoon into a tight perimeter and adjusted artillery and air strikes close in and around his position. Realizing his wounded desperately needed proper medical attention, and that he could not utilize his supporting and organic fires of the company to the fullest, he gave the word to return to the company perimeter. Ignoring his wounds and waiting until the last man had started his withdrawal, he successfully utilized fire and movement as he guided his platoon back to the company. Lieutenant Gerding’s extraordinary heroism was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.