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 Emmett Harvey Horn, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving as a Heavy Weapons Leader, Detachment A-113, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in action on 23 December 1964, in the vicinity of Ashau, Republic of Vietnam. On that date, Sergeant Horn was accompanying a combat patrol of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam on a military mission through enemy controlled territory when the friendly element was ambushed by the Viet Cong. Despite the vulnerable position of the patrol as it was passing through a valley with the enemy positioned in the surrounding hills, Sergeant Horn bravely exposed himself to the heavy Viet Cong automatic weapons fire by placing himself in a forward position and directing the patrol’s move from the defile in which they were ambushed to terrain more suitable for defense. Then, with fortitude and determination, he moved from position to position to establish a defense perimeter, to direct the fire of the friendly troops, and to administer first aid to the wounded members of the patrol. When one of the friendly mortar crews encountered difficulty in directing their fire, he personally employed the 60-mm. mortar in direct fire against Viet Cong troop concentrations to dislodge them. After the successful defense was established, he continued to display his courageous actions and, while moving from his command post to the position of the Vietnamese leader to recommend the next movement of the patrol, he was mortally wounded by enemy gun fire. Sergeant Horn’s conspicuous gallantry is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military services.