The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fourth Class Lorenzo J. Arementros, United States Army, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life at Bien Hoa Air Base, on 10 February 1968. On that date, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, Specialist Arementros distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as a door gunner with the 68th Assault Helicopter Company. At approximately 2330 hours, the helicopter on which Specialist Arementros was serving had shut down at Spartan Heliport, and he and the pilot started walking across the flight line when they were both struck by shrapnel from an enemy rocket which impacted approximately 15 yards away from them. The blast wounded both men. Specialist Arementros, seeing that the pilot had received a serious chest wound, immediately covered the wound with his T-shirt to prevent the man from bleeding to death. Although he was in the middle of the flight line, he covered the wounded man with his own body while remaining exposed to fragments from the incoming rockets. He fearlessly remained in this position until another rocket scored a direct hit on a nearby helicopter. Shrapnel from the exploding helicopter then hit Specialist Arementros again, seriously wounding him in the back. Despite wounds in his back, legs, and hands, Specialist Arementros, still completely exposed to incoming rockets, carried the wounded pilot approximately 40 yards to the relative safety of a drainage ditch. He then proceeded another 75 yards through the intense incoming rocket fire over rough but exposed terrain to direct medics to the wounded pilot, thus saving the man’s life. By his courageous action and humanitarian regard for his fellowman, in the dedication of his service to his country, Specialist Fourth Class Arementros has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army.