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 Eugene L. Buckley (ASN: US-67032574), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Company C, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, in action on 17 April 1968, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Specialist Fourth Class Buckley was serving with his Engineer Company when his unit was requested to provide assistance for a regiment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam which desperately needed to have a landing zone cut in the thick jungle near its night defensive position to facilitate the evacuation of approximately 50 casualties. Specialist Buckley unhesitatingly volunteered for the mission, although he realized that it involved being airlifted in to hostile territory in the darkness. At approximately 0200 hours, he was lowered from a hovering helicopter by a 60 foot rope into the jungle near Tan Uyen. The South Vietnamese defensive position was receiving continuous small arms fire at this time, and he was an extremely vulnerable target during his descent into the unsecured area. Specialist Buckley contacted the friendly elements and worked through the night to clear the vital landing zone. During this time he was constantly endangered by hostile fire, but this did not deter him from completing his task. His courageous initiative and calm perseverance were major factors enabling the numerous casualties to be evacuated from the remote area. Specialist Fourth Class Buckley’s unquestionable valor while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an insurgent force is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.