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 Specialist Fifth Class Carl L. Crowner (ASN: RA-16838992), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Specialist Fifth Class Crowner distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while acting as Senior Company Aidman for Company C, 1st Battalion an, 503d Infantry, on 11 November 1967. On that day, at approximately 0930 hours while on Operation MacArthur, Company C was hit by a battalion size enemy force equipped with the latest Communist armaments. Company C immediately received several casualties from the heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. Specialist Crowner took account of the situation and ran through a heavy volume of fire and mortar bursts to the point element of the company to treat the wounded. As the mortar shells continued to come, casualties began to mount. Although he was wounded in both hands by shrapnel, Specialist Crowner moved up and down the line, treating the wounded and carrying and dragging them to cover on the adjacent hill. After he had secured all the known casualties of his platoon, Specialist Crowner’s attention was drawn to two wounded men at the bottom of the valley who were unable to move. With complete disregard for his own safety, Specialist Crowner moved down the hill in the midst of a heavy volume of grenade, automatic weapons and mortar fire. After arriving at the position of the two wounded men, he was again wounded; this time in the back while using his body as a shield to protect the man he was working on. Ignoring his own wounds, Specialist Crowner dragged one man and pushed and carried the other up the hill to the main body of the fighting element. During the nine hours of heavy fighting, Specialist Crowner’s courage was a direct inspiration to the men of Company C. He was responsible for saving the lives of numerous wounded personnel. Specialist Crowner’s gallantry under fire, compassion for the wounded and dedication to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.