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 Staff Sergeant Michael Forrester Stearns (ASN: RA-19760833), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Detachment A-108, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Stearns distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 March 1967 while serving as Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese reaction force during the relief of a beleaguered unit near Minh Long. After landing with his unit, a short distance from the conflict, Sergeant Stearns immediately deployed his men to secure the zone and took charge of incoming troops as helicopters delivered them. While leading the troops toward the besieged unit, the force was struck by intense machine gun fire. Although Sergeant Stearns was seriously wounded, he never wavered in trying to lead his troops out of the dangerous area. Ignoring the bullets striking all around him, he ran to the aid of a Vietnamese sergeant and was struggling to get him to safety when he was fatally wounded. Staff Sergeant Stearns’ gallantry in action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.