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 (Field Artillery) Kenneth Moore Waldrop (ASN: OF-101761), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force. Captain Waldrop distinguished himself while piloting a UH-1A aircraft of the 18th Aviation Company, 1st Aviation Brigade, on a courier flight from Da Nang to Hue, Republic of Vietnam. When the aircraft was hit by three successive bursts of enemy automatic weapons fire, the engine failed and the pilot and passenter compartments were filled with intense gas fumes. Nevertheless, Captain Waldrop managed to land the crippled aircraft in a small rice paddy. After the aircrafat came to a halt, the enemy pinned down the crew with automatic weapons fire. With total disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Waldrop insured that all of the passengers and crew had exited, and then took up a position directly in front of the enemy. Armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, he held off a numerically superior attacking force single-handedly for 30 minutes. When a rescue aircraft arrived overhead, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to direct gunships at the enemy positions. He then led his crew and remaining passengers to a favorable pickup point and all personnel were extracted without injury. Without Captain Waldrop’s inimitable display of poised leadership and unquestionable bravery, the entire contingent would have been overrun by the enemy. His 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.