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 a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Armor), [then Captain] Robert F. Molinelli, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 30 September 1965, while leading a platoon of armed helicopters in Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam. Colonel Molinelli’s platoon was providing fire support for a large-scale attempt by elements of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam to trap and destroy a battalion of Viet Cong. When the South Vietnamese force converged on the enemy, intense fighting ensured, and two American advisors were seriously wounded. Several attempts to reach them by a medical evacuation helicopter were unsuccessful because of intense anti-aircraft fire. Seeing that the medical evacuation helicopter could not land, Colonel Molinelli attempted the extraction. His first attempt was also unsuccessful, and his aircraft sustained several hits from the anti-aircraft fie. Approaching from a different direction, he maneuvered through the enemy fires, landed the crippled helicopter, loaded the wounded advisors aboard, and took off amid intense mortar and machinegun fire which was directed exclusively at his aircraft. Colonel Molinelli’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.