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 Major (Signal Corps), [then Captain] Peter R. Coggins, United States Army, for gallantry in action at An Lao, Republic of Vietnam, on 7 December 1964. On this date, Major Coggins landed his helicopter near the outpost of An Lao under a withering hail of fire and sustained several hits. Major Coggins succeeded in getting his helicopter airborne and persevered by returning and landing again, this time within the outpost. Major Coggins then took command of a critical situation in which the South Vietnamese soldiers at the outpost of An Lao were in a state of panic and disorganization. After controlling the ground situation, Major Coggins was successful in taking aboard eleven seriously wounded South Vietnamese soldiers, and only after mortar rounds and extremely heavy small arms fire from the battalion-sized North Vietnamese force which threatened to jeopardize the completion of the mission did Major Coggins leave the outpost. He flew a heavily damaged helicopter through poor weather and visibility safely back to the base camp at Qui Nhon, Republic of Vietnam. The gallantry in action rendered by Major Coggins is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army.