The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman Paul A. Goldstein (NSN: 6881877), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman attached to Company M, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with operations against the insurgent communist guerrilla forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 21 March 1966, Hospitalman Goldstein’s unit was engaged in securing a helicopter landing zone in Quang Ngai Province when one of the participating aircraft experienced mechanical difficulties and crashed in flames in a rice paddy. By the time Hospitalman Goldstein reached the scene, the helicopter was a blazing inferno with hand grenades and machine gun and rifle ammunition exploding and showering the immediate area with molten metal from the burning magnesium rotor blades. Observing that the pilot was halfway out of the cockpit and struggling to escape the blazing wreckage, Hospitalman Goldstein, and another man immediately raced to his aid, completely disregarding the intense heat and danger from the exploding ammunition. Although he was painfully burned and temporarily blinded when the rotor blades exploded, he persisted in his effort and sought cover only when the stricken pilot had been removed to a safe area. By his extraordinary courage in the face of extreme danger, coupled with bold initiative and selfless concern for the welfare of another, Hospitalman Goldstein upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.