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 Private First Class Patrick John Brems (ASN: RA-12734141), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 716th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Group. Private First Class Brems distinguished himself on 1 April 1966 while serving as a military policeman performing security duties at the Victoria Hotel, a billet for American officers in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. At approximately 0510 hours, a Viet Cong terrorist force approached the hotel with an explosive laden vehicle in an attempt to destroy the hotel and kill the American officers living there. As the terrorist approached his position, Private First Class Brems opened fire in the face of overwhelming odds and encouraged his Vietnamese counterpart to attempt to repulse the Viet Cong attack. Facing the charging vehicle and intense automatic weapons fire, he delivered maximum fire power and forced the driver to abandon the vehicle short of its intended goal. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Private First Class Brems continued to fire at the escaping terrorists until he was mortally wounded by the explosion of the vehicle. Through his courage, and devotion to duty, he not only prevented the explosive laden vehicle from entering the hotel, but also provided warning time for the occupants of the building to take cover. Because of Private First Class Brems’ mental alertness, a terrorist was subsequently captured with an automatic weapon. Private First Class Brems’ extraordinary heroism in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force at the cost of his life was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.