The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant William Balt Hunt (ASN: RA-19475676), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Detachment A-302, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Hunt distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 November 1966 while serving as Special Forces Advisor to a Vietnamese unit during ground operations in Tay Ninh Province. Sergeant Hunt flew into a combat zone with a medical evacuation mission and helped load the aircraft with casualties. When the load proved to be too heavy for the helicopter, he volunteered to remain behind and joined the ground force. After two days of heavy fighting, his unit was surrounded by an overwhelmingly larger Viet Cong force and overrun. During the conflict, another soldier was blown by a grenade explosion out of his covered location and remained unconscious in a position to hostile weapons. Heedless of the intense hostile barrage, Sergeant Hunt left his cover and began to carry him to safety. He was severely wounded in the shoulder and upper back, but reached a protected spot and administered first aid to his comrade. He lost consciousness, and when both men revived, they found their weapons gone and only wounded soldiers nearby. Although they passed out from loss of blood periodically, they made their way towards friendly forces with three Vietnamese casualties. When Sergeant Hunt collapsed and could not be revived, he was left with a wounded soldier, while his comrade tried to reach help. An hour later, the wounded man appeared and reported that Sergeant Hunt had died. Sergeant Hunt is presently officially listed as missing in action. Staff Sergeant Hunt’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.