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 Private First Class Nollie Andrew Bland (ASN: RA-16814302), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Private First Class Bland distinguished himself while serving as a Medic attached to Battery B, 2d Howitzer Battalion, 320th Artillery, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. At 0200 hours the battery position was attacked from the west by a large Viet Cong force. Private First Class Bland immediately ran entirely across the battery area while under intense small arms fire and grenade attacks to treat the first of many casualties. He immediately raced to the forefront of the fighting and recklessly exposed himself time and time again to enemy fire from 10 to 15 meters away to treat and recover all friendly wounded. When it became necessary to bring medical evacuation helicopters in, he calmly and professionally supervised the evacuation although the battery was still under heavy small arms fire. Though painfully wounded with fragments in his knee cap, he returned to the area of most intense fighting and continued to care for the wounded. When Gun #6 was overrun for the second time he was the last man forced out of the position. After sun up when a force of 40 – 50 Viet Cong on the hill to the north continued to bring heavy fire on the area, Private First Class Bland again walked through the area and supervised the loading of two more groups of wounded. He continued to expose himself fearlessly until the end of the action at about 0900 hours. He refused to be evacuated until forced to go out with the last load. Private First Class Bland’s devotion to duty and personal gallantry are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.