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 Sergeant Randall W. King, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force, on 22 February 1969, while serving as a Searchlight Crewman with Battery I (Searchlight), 29th Artillery Regiment, II Field Force Artillery, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Sergeant King and his Section Chief were providing illumination on the eastern perimeter of Long Binh Post. Sergeant King monitored a radio message reporting rocket flashes and rounds impacting on the southern perimeter. With complete disregard for his safety, he and his Section Chief headed their open searchlight vehicle toward the heavily bombarded south perimeter moving directly through an intense mortar and grenade barrage. Arriving at a bunker, they discovered several wounded soldiers on the ground. At great risk to his own life, Sergeant King assisted in the evacuation of these men to a jeep in the rear, although the area was under peak mortar and rocket attack and intense automatic weapons fire. After the wounded had been evacuated, Sergeant King took up a fighting position on the perimeter and laid down a high volume of suppressive fire. As he continued in his efforts to defend the searchlight position, a mortar round landed near his bunker and metal fragments knocked the weapon from his hands, temporarily blinding him. With his weapon inoperative and the other men in his bunker low on ammunition, Sergeant King volunteered to go for a resupply. On his third trip, he encountered a wounded man and carried the man to safety. He then returned to the searchlight position and proceeded to place effective machine gun fire on the enemy. Sergeant King’s gallantry and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.