The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Carl W. Sommers, II, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 18 May 1966, while serving as pilot of a fighter aircraft in Southeast Asia. Lieutenant Commander Sommers diverted his flight of two aircraft from his primary mission to provide protective cover for rescue of the crew of a downed spotter aircraft. He repeatedly attacked enemy troop positions near the downed aircraft until rescue aircraft arrived. While assisting rescue by making repeated low passes over the downed plane to provide visual contact, his aircraft was struck by enemy fire and burst into flames. After abandoning his aircraft, he was later rescued by helicopter.