The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Stephen T. Ulmer, United States Coast Guard, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the U.S.C.G.C. POINT LEAGUE (WPB-82304), Coast Guard Squadron ONE, engaged in Market Time Operations to interdict Viet Cong infiltration attempts near the mouth of the Co Chien River on 20 June 1966. While on night patrol, POINT LEAGUE engaged a 100-foot armed supply vessel attempting to deliver a large cargo of arms and ammunition to the Viet Cong. For hours, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Ulmer directed his command in a short-range gun battle with the infiltrator and forced her to ground on the beach. The enemy crew abandoned the vessel and made their way to the shore where they joined with Viet Cong forces. The fight then shifted to the beach where the Viet Cong forces, equipped with machine guns and heavier weapons, attempted to destroy the cutter and recoup the grounded vessel and its cargo. POINT LEAGUE, at first by itself and later joined by POINT SLOCUM and POINT HUDSON, raked the enemy forces with machine gun and mortar fire in exposing their positions to friendly aircraft support. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Ulmer remained calm and in control despite his exposed position in the pilot house which took several hits, all of them penetrating the aluminum bulkheads. When a fire broke out in the grounded vessel, he organized a damage control party to suppress the flames to the point where POINT LEAGUE was able to come alongside and fight the fire. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Ulmer’s valor, determination, and leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.