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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) John Hanford Claybrook, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 5 May 1970, while serving as Commanding Officer of the 2d Battalion (Mechanized), 47th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Colonel Claybrook was directing and supervising combat operations from a forward command post. In the early hours of the morning, the post received an indirect fire attack lasting for twenty minutes, and consisting of mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, and automatic weapons fire. When the enemy firing had ceased, Colonel Claybrook began coordinating and directing preparations for an enemy ground attack, which he knew to be imminent. Three hours later, the compound was again hit by an intense indirect fire attack which proved to be the final preparation for ab enemy ground assault. As the unknown size enemy force attacked, Lieutenant Colonel Claybrook personally took charge of the defense of the camp. Remaining exposed to the enemy fire, he directed the camp’s mortar fire of illumination and high explosive rounds which decimated the attacking forces and then eliminated the enemy mortars. As the attack grew in intensity, Lieutenant Colonel Claybrook skillfully coordinated the efforts of his individual companies, directing maximum effective fire to the most threatened sectors of the perimeter. As the fighting continued, Colonel Claybrook, oblivious to the enemy fusillade, moved about the compound from position to position, encouraging his men, directing their fire, and applying emergency treatment to the wounded. The enemy assault was halted, repulsed, and finally routed by the highly accurate fire of the defenders. Lieutenant Colonel Claybrook’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.