Navy Federal Credit Union

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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Robert Edwin Lee Hamilton (ASN: US-53756072), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Hamilton distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on the night of 8 January 1968, while serving as a Radio-Telephone Operator with Company B, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, during a mission to provide support for another infantry unit near Rach Kien, Vietnam. During the hours of darkness, his unit was heliborne to a position near the location where the friendly unit had made initial contact. As the helicopters began their descent into a rice paddy bound on three sides by dense vegetation, they suddenly came under rocket fire from a well-fortified and numerically superior Viet Cong force. Upon landing, Private Hamilton’s helicopter began receiving a fierce concentration of automatic and semiautomatic weapons fire. Although wounded in the initial bursts of enemy fire in an arm and a leg, Private Hamilton disregarded the pain of his injuries to assist in removing his wounded comrades from the aircraft. Seeing that the pilot was seriously wounded, he further exposed himself to reach the casualty and carry him to a position of safety. While carrying the pilot across the open rice paddy to the shelter of a dike, Private Hamilton was struck in the chest by an enemy round. Despite his agonizing wound, Private Hamilton continued to carry the wounded pilot to the most shielded position available. As the battle raged on, Private Hamilton succumbed to his wounds and died. His supreme sacrifice and great determination contributed significantly to saving the pilot’s life and was an inspiration to the men of his company. Private First Class Hamilton’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in close combat against a numerically superior Viet Cong force was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Awards Received