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 Sergeant First Class James W. Finzel, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Command and Control Detachment, North, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Finzel distinguished himself while serving as leader of a long range reconnaissance patrol during an intelligence gathering operation deep in enemy controlled territory. After helicopter insertion into the planned area of operation, Sergeant Finzel moved his team to a hilltop and there set up defensive positions for the night. The enemy probed the team’s position all through the night but did not attack in force until first light in the morning. Sergeant Finzel rushed forward to meet the enemy’s lead elements and swiftly cut down two of the adversary with rifle fire. He then dropped back onto his defensive perimeter and commenced to direct tactical aircraft in repeated bombing runs on the surrounding enemy, at times as close as twenty meters to his own position. Sighting a gap in the enemy encirclement, Sergeant Finzel led his team through the opening just as the air strikes lifted and the enemy launched another fierce assault on the hilltop. Met by a blocking enemy element, Sergeant Finzel single-handedly stayed off the attackers with rifle fire while his men rushed to cover and formed a defensive perimeter. He then rushed through a storm of enemy fire to rejoin his besieged team. Standing out in the open, Sergeant Finzel daringly exposed himself to hostile fire as he sighted enemy positions and directed tactical aircraft to them. At this time, he spotted one of his men lying wounded some thirty meters outside the team’s perimeter. Firing his rifle on the run, Sergeant Finzel maneuvered to his comrade and aided him back to the team. While directing air strikes over their path of withdrawal, Sergeant Finzel then moved the reconnaissance team to an emergency landing zone where they were met and extracted by helicopters. Sergeant First Class Finzel’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.