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 pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fourth Class Bruce McCartney (ASN: RA-14931248), 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 Four McCartney distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 while serving with a military police alert force of Company C, 716th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Group, 18th Military Police Brigade during a combined Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army offensive against Saigon. The enemy had launched concerted attacks throughout the city, and his unit was called to assist friendly forces engaged in a firefight near the Phu Tho race track. While en route to the location, the alert force was savagely ambushed by insurgents firing claymore mines, rockets and automatic weapons. Observing several wounded comrades pinned down in the ambush killing zone fifty meters to his front, Specialist McCartney unhesitatingly raced forward through a withering hail of bullets and drew the enemy fire to himself. This enabled the casualties to take cover behind their burning vehicle. Upon reaching their position, he laid down a base of counterfire on the insurgents and then assisted in moving the wounded to safety. When he realized that the body of an officer had been left behind, he courageously returned through the intense fusillade, retrieved his fallen comrade and carried him from the ambush site. Specialist Fourth Class McCartney’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.