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 (Corps of Engineers) Torrence Melvin Wilson (ASN: OF-108043), 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 Wilson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Commanding Officer of Company C, 39th Engineer Combat Battalion, 45th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, in action against the enemy on 23 August 1968, during an attack on one of his company’s mine sweeping teams near Landing Zone DOTTIE. His men were pinned under intense automatic weapons fire coming from a wooded area next to the road. Finding that artillery, gunship, and armored personnel carrier support were unavailable, Captain Wilson established a base of fire and maneuvered his forces across four hundred meters of open terrain. Nearing the hostile position, they began receiving automatic weapons fire from a village to their flank. Exposing himself to the withering cross fire, Captain Wilson organized his command and control helicopter, he directed its fire to silence the original position, and then led an assault on the communists in the village. When he and one of his men were wounded by a secondary explosion, he assisted the wounded soldier to the helicopter, but refused evacuation for himself until the communists were defeated. Captain Wilson’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.