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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Darrell W. Katz (ASN: 0-5326728), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Detachment A-113, Company C, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces in the Republic of Vietnam. First Lieutenant Katz distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 September 1967 while serving as Special Forces Company Commander of a Vietnamese strike force on a massive search and destroy operation near Tien Phouc. While crossing a river, his company came under intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from the opposite bank. Braving withering fire, Lieutenant Katz led a fierce assault on the enemy positions, forcing the insurgents to flee. After treating the wounded and supervising their evacuation, he reorganized his company and continued the operation. As his unit crossed an open rice paddy, it was savagely attacked by a numerically superior Viet Cong force firing machine guns, grenade launchers and automatic weapons. Realizing his troops were in a critically dangerous situation, he quickly deployed them in an effective defensive perimeter and moved among them to direct their fire on the determined attackers. His artillery observer was wounded and trapped in the open while attempting to reach a position from which he could more effectively direct strikes on the enemy. Heedless of his personal safety, Lieutenant Katz dashed two hundred meters across the bullet-swept battlefield and carried the man to a relatively sheltered position to treat his wounds. He was wounded himself while administering aid to his companion, but he ignored his wound and carried the man back to the unit’s position. Refusing treatment, he continued to expose himself to the ravaging fire and directed the defense until his men forced the Viet Cong to break contact. First Lieutenant Katz’ gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.