The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Peter Wolcott Soverel, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 16 August 1968. Lieutenant Soverel commanded a column of River Assault Squadron NINE boats conducting operations in support of U.S. Army elements along the Ben Tre River in Kien Hoa Province. Late in the day, after heavy enemy contact was broken, Lieutenant Soverel coordinated the landing of a portion of the embarked troops and ordered approximately two-thirds of his boats to establish a defensive position at the beach. He and the remainder of his craft and the embarked infantry were proceeding downstream to another landing zone when a large Viet Cong unit opened fire from ambush position. One of the minesweepers received a direct hit from a recoilless rifle round and careened out of control toward the enemy bunkers. Lieutenant Soverel realizing the danger, initiated a devastating barrage of return fire on the enemy positions and ordered the other lead boats to cease minesweeping and take the damaged craft in tow. Lieutenant Soverel’s accurate fire control succeeded in disrupting the enemy fire thus enabling him to turn the formation into the beach and land the infantry to assault the enemy. Lieutenant Soverel noticed that the two lead boats had not turned with the formation and realized they had not heard his command. When further efforts to communicate by radio failed, he instructed the monitor on which he was embarked to overtake the damaged craft and its tow. The intensity of enemy fire increased as the three boats passed deeper into Viet Cong territory, thus requiring Lieutenant Soverel to direct the monitor’s gunners to engage several enemy positions simultaneously. After several minutes of pursuit, Lieutenant Soverel climbed on top a gun mount exposing himself fearlessly to continuing enemy fire to effect visual signals to turn the boats around. He maintained this position until finally gaining contact and reversing their course. On the return transit, he interposed his monitor between the two vulnerable craft and the enemy fire and covered their return. His outstanding professionalism, sense of responsibility and courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.