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 Staff Sergeant Claude O. Bartley (ASN: RA-11382054), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Bartley distinguished himself by intrepid actions on 8 February 1968 while serving as a Squad Leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. On that date, the company came under intense enemy automatic weapons and mortar fire from their front and right flank while conducting a search and clear mission south of DaNang. During the initial action, the lead platoon sustained heavy casualties and the rest of the company was pinned down by the devastating enemy fire. Sergeant Bartley immediately ordered his squad to withdraw to a more secure position. Realizing that their position was untenable, he then ordered his men to maneuver to the rear, as he assisted three wounded squad members over 200 meters amidst heavy enemy fire to reach a safe area. As soon as several of the hostile positions were knocked out, Sergeant Bartley expertly reorganized his remaining squad members and returned through the intense enemy small arms fire to rescue other members of his company who were wounded and lying in exposed locations. His courageous actions contributed significantly to the defeat of the enemy force in which 207 enemy soldiers were killed. Staff Sergeant Bartley’s unquestionable valor and dauntless determination in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force 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.