(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 Captain (Infantry) John Baggett Walker, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Walker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, as Battalion Advisor to the 2d Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, in action against the enemy in 1966. Captain Walker’s battalion made a heliborne assault into a jungled area about four miles east of Loc Ninh, in Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, to make a bomb damage assessment, and to search out any enemy in the area. When word was received that a MIKE Force had made heavy contact with a Viet Cong force 24 miles west of their position, the battalion was helilifted into the area to reinforce the MIKE Battalion, and disembarked to link up. About 30 minutes later the Viet Cong opened fire from all sides with mortars, grenades, recoilless rifles, automatic weapons, small arms, and riot gas. Captain Walker’s demonstration of leadership and courage were instrumental in causing the ARVN soldiers to stand and fight, denying ground to the enemy. When another U.S. Advisor was wounded, Captain Walker again exposed himself to administer first aid, and then with another captain, braved the enemy fire to put the dying man on a helicopter, after an earlier extraction was aborted when the helicopter was driven off by the intense enemy fire. That night with a small single-engine airplane directing air strikes on the enemy, Captain Walker exposed himself to withering fire to check the effectiveness of the air strikes. Between 200 and 400 Viet Cong were killed in the air strikes. Captain Walker’s conspicuous gallantry is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.