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) Gerald David O’Leary, United States Army, for gallantry in action against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain O’Leary distinguished himself by intrepid actions on 31 May 1969, while serving as Commanding Officer of Company D, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade (Light), 23d Infantry Division (Americal). On that date, the company was moving to assist a sister unit that was pinned down by hostile fire near Tap An Bac when it encountered a large North Vietnamese Army force. The heavily armed insurgents soon succeeded in trapping the reinforcing elements in an open rice paddy and continued to direct heavy volumes of fire on the beleaguered unit as Captain O’Leary maneuvered among his men and placed them in defensive positions. Observing a comrade fall while attempting to silence a machinegun emplacement, Captain O’Leary rushed to the position himself, maneuvering through the .30 caliber automatic weapons fire and killing three North Vietnamese Army soldiers. He then moved along a trenchline and located a large amount of enemy weapons and supplies before returning to the main body of the company. Upon reaching the unit, Captain O’Leary rallied his men and led them in a fierce counterattack which routed the insurgents from the area. His courageous and timely actions were instrumental in minimizing casualties among his comrades and in capturing numerous enemy weapons. Captain O’Leary’s personal heroism, professional competence, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.