The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class Ray Adam Archuletta (ASN: RA-17404497), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in action on 7 September 1967 near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Archuletta distinguished himself as his platoon was moving a wounded man to a landing zone to be extracted when they were suddenly brought under a tremendous volume of enemy automatic weapons fire. Seeing his machinegunner wounded, Sergeant Archuletta ordered his evacuation while he rushed forward with complete disregard for his own safety and in spite of the enemy fire to provide covering fire. As the wounded man was too heavy to be carried by the medic, Sergeant Archuletta again moved through the fire and helped carry him to the safety of a nearby wood line position. Nearing the wood line, Sergeant Archuletta was seriously wounded and in one last valiant effort he ordered the medic to take the wounded man to safety as he stayed behind and expended his ammunition to provide the covering fire. The outstanding gallantry, devotion to his fellow soldier, and his intense dedication to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Archuletta were in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.

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 Ray Adam Archuletta (ASN: RA-17404497), United States Army, for gallantry in action. While on a search and destroy mission the point element of the First Platoon, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, suddenly became engaged in a fire fight with an estimated enemy squad reinforced with a light machine gun. As the intensity of the enemy fire increased, Staff Sergeant Archuletta quickly determined the precarious situation of the point element. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Archuletta jumped to his feet and charged through the withering enemy automatic weapons fire to within approximately twenty feet of the enemy machine gun position and threw a hand grenade into the emplacement, knocking it out. Sergeant Archuletta continued to advance on the enemy position and captured the enemy automatic weapons that had been abandoned by the wounded enemy soldier. Sergeant Archuletta quickly returned to his squad and continued to expose himself to the withering enemy fire while deploying his squad and personally directing their fire. Sergeant Archuletta on several occasions moved through the tremendous volume of enemy fire and personally pulled some of his wounded comrades to covered positions. His actions saved the lives of several of his wounded comrades and enabled the platoon to successfully assault and overrun the determined enemy force. Sergeant Archuletta’s outstanding display of gallantry in action and his devotion to duty are within the highest military tradition and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.