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) Phillip E. Bodine (ASN: 0-5334357), United States Army, for gallantry in action. First Lieutenant Bodine distinguished himself by exceptional heroism on 13 November 1967, while serving as a platoon leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) on a combat operation in the Republic of Vietnam. At 1600 hours the lead platoon of Company B was taken under intense and accurate sniper fire. Lieutenant Bodine aggressively deployed his troops to eliminate the snipers. Realizing the seriousness of the situation as the platoon came under heavy rocket, grenade and automatic weapons fire, he directed an orderly withdrawal of his men. He exposed himself to the intense incoming fire to cover the withdrawal and was twice wounded. Disregarding his painful wounds, he continued to help extract the wounded as the platoon fell back to the perimeter. Upon reaching the perimeter, he once again went through the hail of enemy fire to pull a wounded man to safety and was again wounded. Lieutenant Bodine’s extraordinary heroism against a numerically superior North Vietnamese force was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.