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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Armor) Hugh Robert McKibbin, Jr. (ASN: OF-107840), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company B, 2d Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in action on 4 January 1968, while serving as tank platoon leader of Task Force Madden in the Republic of Vietnam. When the task force commander, his driver, and the Vietnamese district chief were suddenly cut down by enemy automatic weapon fire leaving the Vietnamese Army forces securing the position leaderless and disorganized, Lieutenant McKibbin proceeded to the scene from an adjacent position, redeployed his men to keep the Viet Cong from escaping, and dusted off the wounded and dead personnel. Simultaneously he directed the Vietnamese Troops and restored order in their ranks. Maintaining contact with his superior in charge he wisely waved off a helicopter gun strike so that he could maintain his position. After pressing the Viet Cong into a corner with armor and infantry he then personally burned them out with a flame thrower. His calmness and firmness of bearing along with superior judgment in the appraisal of necessary action restored order and enabled the force to destroy the enemy. Lieutenant McKibbin’s personal bravery, aggressiveness, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.