(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 (Air Defense Artillery) William Eugene Zook, Jr., 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 Zook distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 December 1971, while serving as a Helicopter Pilot in the 187th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade. On that date Captain Zook was pilot on a Huey helicopter with the mission of re-supplying a surrounded South Vietnamese battalion in Cambodia and medivacing the wounded and dead. After delivering ammunition and picking up 10 dead and wounded, he took off and immediately started taking fire from four .51 caliber machine guns. At about 1,000 feet the helicopter was hit in the engine with a stream of bullets causing a huge fire. The engine quit and he was forced to auto rotate into triple canopy jungle. The helicopter was on fire and all passengers were ejected as the chopper fell to the ground. All crew members were unconscious. Captain Zook was the first to regain consciousness and rescued the other three crewmen and dragged them about 50 feet away. After making multiple trips to drag the crew to safety, Captain Zook was making a return to the helicopter to get the .50 caliber machine gun when it exploded and lit up the entire jungle. Multiple rescue attempts by his company were met with hostile fire. After five hours in the jungle awaiting rescue they began taking fire. Captain Zook led the crew on an escape and evasion in hostile enemy territory for a day and one half, avoiding enemy contact while traveling over 15 miles south towards Viet Nam. Around dark on the second day the crew was rescued. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Zook, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.