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 Staff Sergeant Frank Youngness Kelson (ASN: RA-21916304), United States Army, for gallantry in action involving close combat with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Kelson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 January 1969 while serving as a Scout Section Leader with Troop A, 3d Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 9th Infantry Division, on a road run mission in Quang Tri Province. When Sergeant Kelson’s track was hit and disabled by a rocket propelled grenade, he immediately directed his men in returning fire upon the enemy position. When the track was hit a second time, bursting into flames, Sergeant Kelson directed his crew to dismount and engage the enemy from the ground. AT this time the enemy charged them. Sergeant Kelson boldly exposed himself to the oncoming enemy and led the crew in a counter assault, in which they successfully repelled the enemy in hand to hand combat. Discovering that the fire on his track had died out, Sergeant Kelson directed his men to remount it and they resumed firing on the enemy. Staff Sergeant Kelson’s extraordinary heroism in close combat against an armed hostile force is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.