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 Sergeant First Class Edward Albert Bartberger, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Command and Control Detachment, North, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Bartberger distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 January 1969 while serving as a medical aidman in support of Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols operating deep within enemy-held territory. When an insertion craft was shot down by hostile fire, Sergeant Bartberger’s craft approached to make a pickup of the crew and passengers. Because of the dense vegetation at the site, the craft hovered over the downed helicopter amid the hostile barrage. Sergeant Bartberger climbed out over the skids to lower McGuire rigs to the personnel on the ground, but noticing that the crew were dazed and unable to help themselves, he quickly descended unarmed to assist them. He strapped four soldiers into the rigs and barely managed to grab the skid of the aircraft as it lifted off when the enemy fire grew intense. Not until the helicopter was two hundred fifty feet in the air did he manage to climb back into the craft. Sergeant First Class Bartberger’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.