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 the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant [then Specialist Fourth Class] William Edward Dillender, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force, while serving with Company B, 101st Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), (Ambulance), 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), in Laos. Sergeant Dillender distinguished himself on 20 March 1971 while serving as Crew Chief of a UH-1H helicopter during the emergency extraction of allied troops in Laos. Despite the fact that the friendly firebase was surrounded by enemy troops, Sergeant Dillender provided the accurate and devastating suppressive fire which prevented his aircraft from receiving any hits during two attempts to reach the landing zone. Upon learning that another helicopter crew had been shot down in a nearby area, Sergeant Dillender volunteered to extract them. Despite enemy small arms and mortar fire, he delivered suppressive fire, allowing his aircraft to land, pickup the downed crew, and depart safely. After returning to Khe Sanh, Sergeant Dillender volunteered to make still another attempt to reach the friendly firebase. As the aircraft was on its final approach to the landing zone, his aircraft was hit by a rocket propelled grenade, causing it to explode and mortally wounding the entire crew. Sergeant Dillender’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.