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 Sergeant Billy Dean Perry, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, during action against North Vietnamese Army forces on 21 March 1967 in support of Operation JUNCTION CITY – Phase II. After touching down in a landing zone that was thought to have been weakened by artillery fire, First Sergeant Perry and the Soldiers of his company were quickly pinned down by enemy small arms and machine gun fire emanating from nine well-concealed, dug-in fighting positions. Realizing the direness of the situation, First Sergeant Perry moved through open ground, without thought to his personal safety, to a fortified machinegun bunker. After assaulting across 50 meters of open ground, he quickly scaled the bunker, and though at risk of both enemy and friendly fire, threw several hand grenades into it. After the grenades detonated, First Sergeant Perry removed the hatch to the bunker and silenced the remaining occupants, single-handedly defeating the emplacement. First Sergeant Perry’s selfless bravery and conspicuous gallantry upholds the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.