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 Private First Class Farrell Utterback (ASN: RA-16633740), United States Army, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while assigned to Battery D, 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, on 13 January 1967. On that date, during Operation CEDAR FALLS, Private First Class Utterback was serving as a reconnaissance specialist with a forward artillery observer team attached to Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry. Due to technical difficulties in radio communications, friendly artillery fire was directed onto the unit’s position. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Private First Class Utterback left his sheltered position and ran through the devastating fire, attempting to reach a radio-telephone set and request a cease fire. En route, he was seriously wounded but, ignoring his pain, he crawled 50 meters to the radio-telephone and halted the artillery barrage. Despite his severe wound, Private First Class Utterback refused medical treatment and assisted in administering first aid to his wounded comrades. Only when the last casualty was treated did he accept medical attention. When a medical evacuation helicopter arrived, he assisted in loading the wounded men aboard the aircraft. Private First Class Utterback’s bold initiative and dauntless courage were undoubtedly responsible for preventing death or serious injury to many of his comrades. Private First Class Utterback’s unquestionable valor while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an insurgent force is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.