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 Specialist Fifth Class Brenton H. Witherspoon, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Five Witherspoon distinguished himself while serving as an aero-medical aidman of the 159th Medical Detachment, United States Army Medical Command, Vietnam, aboard a medical evacuation helicopter answering a request to evacuate a badly wounded soldier from a location south of Go Dau Ha, near Cu Chi. Arriving at the insecure pickup site, the pilot made a landing at the landing zone amid a barrage of hostile fire. Specialist Witherspoon saw that the patient was about 30 meters from the aircraft and got permission to help the medic on the ground in order to speed up the evacuation. Amid hostile fire, he moved quickly to the patient and evacuated him on a litter. While returning to the evacuation helicopter, the other medic suddenly dropped his end of the litter and ran for cover. Specialist Witherspoon, left to care for the patient, cradled the wounded man in his arms and continued toward the chopper as the enemy continued to place fire on his position. Amid the fusillade, the patient suffered three more bullet wounds. Then Specialist Witherspoon was struck in the thigh by small arms fire and knocked sideways. Despite the painful wound, he again secured the patient, moved toward the aircraft and loaded the wounded man aboard. As the air ambulance departed the area, he administered aid to the casualty, refusing treatment for his own wounds, until they reached the 12th Evacuation Hospital at Cu Chi. Specialist Fifth Class Witherspoon’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.