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 Staff Sergeant Willie P. Haskett (ASN: RA-13820678), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Staff Sergeant Haskett distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 December 1966, while serving as a squad leader with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, during a search and destroy mission near Phu Huu in the Republic off Vietnam. When Staff Sergeant Haskett’s platoon came under heavy automatic weapons fire from two well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army companies, the platoon leader was killed and the members of one entire squad were wounded and pinned down in the open. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Haskett led his squad into position to take the enemy under fire in order to relieve pressure on the hard hit squad. Staff Sergeant Haskett fought desperately in hand-to-hand combat to silence the enemy machine gunner who had the squad pinned down. Continuing his display of gallantry in the face of intense enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Haskett personally evacuated six wounded soldiers by crawling a distance of over 300 meters with the wounded men on his back. His display of courage and determination under continuous enemy fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.