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 Technical Sergeant Harvey A. Meltzer, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with the 21st Special Operations Squadron, in Southeast Asia, on 2 January 1972. On that date, Sergeant Meltzer was on a mission to rescue the survivor of an allied reconnaissance team, when his helicopter was entrapped and severely damaged by extremely heavy hostile fire in the landing area. Despite the intense ground fire that bracketed Sergeant Meltzer’s position in an open doorway, he remained at his minigun returning fire. Once out of the landing zone, Sergeant Meltzer aided in extinguishing the engine fire and in the recovery of the stricken aircraft at an emergency airfield, thus ensuring the safe return of the aircraft and his fellow crew members. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Meltzer has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.