The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Michael L. Whetstone, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against hostile enemy forces on 3 and 4 October 1993, while serving Company Commander, Company C, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, as part of the United Nations Quick Reaction Force, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Captain Whetstone’s calm leadership and keen intuition under intense enemy small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire led directly to his company’s superb performance as part of the battalion’s rescue operation to extract trapped Ranger and Special Operations soldiers from two helicopter sites. Captain Whetstone’s level headed decisions and command influence under the most adverse of combat conditions reflect great credit on him and the United States Army.