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 Captain (Medical Corps) Joseph X. Grosso (ASN: 0-5239468), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Captain Grosso distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 November 1967 on a combat operation in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as battalion surgeon assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Captain Grosso entered the forward battle area at Hill 875 in the vicinity of Dak To, to supervise care of the wounded in the area. Captain Grosso started moving among the wounded awaiting evacuation, treating them and insuring that all possible aid had been rendered. Soon after his arrival, the area began receiving a heavy volume of rocket, mortar and small arms fire. Despite this, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he continued to work with the wounded personnel. When he found that all the wounded awaiting evacuation had been cared for, he moved up the hill into the area directly behind Company B, 4th Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, which was making an assault on the deeply entrenched enemy force. Again, with complete disregard for his own safety, he started moving around the battle field, pulling wounded out of holes where they had fallen or were left, treating them and directing their evacuation to the rear. Although exposed to the full fury of mortar and small arms fire, Captain Grosso continued his search of the battle field until he was convinced that all wounded personnel had been found, treated and evacuated. He then moved out of the main assault area and back to the collecting point to insure that the more seriously wounded were being evacuated first. Captain Grosso continued his efforts throughout the day and night. Soon after darkness had fallen, several seriously wounded personnel were brought into the area. Captain Grosso treated them and stayed with them throughout the night until they were evacuated at first light on the morning on 22 November. Captain Grosso was then placed in charge of body collection teams. He was charged with the responsibility of insuring that all bodies collected were properly tagged and identified prior to evacuation. As Captain Grosso started out on this difficult mission, the area was once again saturated with enemy mortar and small arms fire. Once again, he moved about the main battle area insuring that all bodies were properly identified and tagged prior to being moved to the rear. Captain Grosso continued his hazardous and difficult mission until he was severely wounded by an incoming mortar round. Captain Grosso’s extraordinary actions while under fire were directly responsible for the saving of an untold number of lives. His calm and methodical identification of bodies in the battle area was an accomplishment which eliminated a possible catastrophic mix-up of bodies being evacuated to the rear. Captain Grosso’s calmness, displayed aggressiveness, and devotion to duty under fire have been in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Medical Corps and the United States Army.