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 Jerry Wayne Jefferson (ASN: US-51802419), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Jefferson distinguished himself while serving as a Rifleman with Company B, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. On 30 November 1968, Private First Class Jefferson’s squad was deployed to a position northwest of Duc Lap and assigned the mission of setting up an ambush in this area of known enemy activity. Private First Class Jefferson, the point man of the friendly element, was cautiously maneuvering through dense terrain toward the proposed ambush site when he spotted an estimated company-sized North Vietnamese force advancing on his position. Immediately, he informed his squad leader of the imminent danger and the small element tactfully deployed into an ambush defensive on both sides of the trail. As the enemy moved to within twenty meters of the ambush site, the friendly squad placed an intense volume of accurate automatic and small arms fire into the ranks of the advancing insurgents. The enemy returned fire in a fierce attempt to gain fire superiority over the numerically inferior friendly force. Undaunted by the intense onslaught of enemy fire, Private First Class Jefferson maneuvered effectively to confuse and disrupt the enemy while at the same time directing a barrage of deadly fire on the hostile positions with his weapon. As Private First Class Jefferson was moving in an effort to flank the large enemy force he was mortally wounded by the heavy enemy fire; but not before he expended a tremendous volley on their position. His extraordinary heroism was instrumental in the many casualties the hostile force suffered and their eventual withdrawal. Private First Class Jefferson’s personal bravery, aggressiveness and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.