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 Specialist Fourth Class Ted R. Cloon, United States Army, for gallantry in action against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fourth Class Cloon distinguished himself by intrepid actions on 2 November 1969 while serving as a Radio-Telephone Operator with the Reconnaissance Platoon of Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Americal Division. On that date, the platoon was conducting a sweep through a village four miles southwest of Thang Binh. As the friendly force moved towards a hedgerow, a devastating burst of hostile automatic weapons fire wounded five men and left one casualty in an exposed area thirty meters in front of the remainder of the friendly unit. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Specialist Cloon began to maneuver through the enemy rounds impacting around the casualty. Braving the hostile fusillade, he managed to reach his fallen fellow soldier and carry the man back to a safe area. After applying emergency first aid to the wounded soldier and assisting him to a medical evacuation helicopter, Specialist Cloon returned to the battle area and again exposed himself to enemy rounds while providing covering fire for the aircraft as it disengaged from the area. Through his timely and courageous actions, Specialist Cloon was instrumental in saving the life of a fellow soldier and served as an inspiration to his entire unit. His 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.