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 Captain (Field Artillery) Mathew D. Dallas (ASN: 0-5405778), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Troop D, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against a hostile force on 29 January 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Captain Dallas was the pilot of a UH-1B helicopter. His mission was to transport a five-man infantry fire team to a site southwest of Ben Cat in the Iron Triangle. While in flight, Captain Dallas noticed two Viet Cong running south on Highway 14. The decision to apprehend the insurgents was made, and Captain Dallas initiated a low level approach to prevent them from escaping into the dense jungle bordering the route. As soon as the helicopter landed, it was attacked by a Viet Cong force armed with small arms and automatic weapons. Captain Dallas immediately directed his door gunner to provide suppressive fire and deployed the fire team to tactically advantageous positions. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Dallas exposed himself to heavy insurgent fire in order to direct an immediate counterattack. While advancing form one position to another, Captain Dallas was seriously wounded. Ignoring his pain, he continued to direct an assault that killed several Viet Cong and forced the remaining insurgents to flee. He then supervised the evacuation of the wounded to the helicopter. Despite the fact that the aircraft had been damaged by hostile fire, Captain Dallas skillfully controlled the vibrating helicopter and piloted it back to a safe landing zone. The bold initiative displayed by Captain Dallas minimized friendly casualties and contributed significantly to the rout of the Viet Cong force. Captain Dallas’ unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.