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 Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Merle J. Snyder, United States Army, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with the 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam. Chief Warrant Officer Snyder distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 May 1969 while commanding a Medical Evacuation Helicopter during a rescue mission near Long Binh. Receiving an urgent request for extraction of the crew of an observation helicopter downed by enemy fire, Mister Snyder and crew quickly boarded their aircraft and headed for the crash site. When they arrived over the area, gunships strafing the jungle about the crashed helicopter were drawing heavy ground fire. It became apparent to Mister Snyder, after orbiting the firefight for some time, that the hostile resistance would not be quickly suppressed and that further delaying an extraction attempt would endanger the lives of the crash victims. With the gunships providing cover fire, he then made a high speed approach at low altitude, dipping the evacuation helicopter down into a cramped jungle clearing near the wreckage. Enemy fire ripped through the emergency landing zone as Mister Snyder waited while the crew loaded the only survivor. Upon lift-off, the hostile fire gained in intensity, hitting the evacuation helicopter, but he skillfully maneuvered the craft out of the fire-swept jungle clearing and delivered the wounded man to medical facilities. Chief Warrant Officer Snyder’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.