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 Billy Eugene Hughes, II (ASN: RA-15807690), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion (Mechanized), 2d Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action at Loc Ninh, Vietnam, on 29 November 1968. On that date, Sergeant Hughes was serving as a Team Leader with his mechanized company on a battalion-minus reconnaissance in force operation north of Loc Ninh. As the friendly force advanced toward an enemy base comp from which it was receiving intense fire, Sergeant Hughes directed the movement of his men against insurgent positions. When a North Vietnamese bunker halted the advance of his element, Sergeant Hughes disregarded his personal safety and maneuvered through the hail of hostile rounds toward the fortification. He then threw several hand grenades into the emplacement which killed its occupants. He continued to assault and destroyed two more bunkers until he expended his supply of hand grenades. While evacuating an injured companion from a disabled armored personnel carrier, Sergeant Hughes was mortally wounded by enemy small arms fire. His courageous initiative and heroic determination were instrumental kin killing several aggressors, and significantly contributed to the successful accomplishment of his unit’s mission. Sergeant Hughes’ unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces 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.