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) Samuel Floca (ASN: OF-108169), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against an armed hostile force on 13 September 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Captain Floca was serving s the artillery liaison officer for an infantry battalion located at a night defensive position in the vicinity of Loc Ninh. When a friendly force left the position at approximately 0800 hours, it was met almost immediately by heavy mortar fire and a North Vietnamese ground attack. Captain Floca braved the hail of hostile rocket, mortar and automatic weapons fire as he left his relatively secure position and moved forward to a good vantage point. He began adjusting artillery and mortar fire on the assailants with maximum effectiveness. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Floca remained in his open, forward location while he placed supporting fires along the flanks and front of the friendly forces and as close as 25 meters to his own position. Despite the relentless enemy fire, he continued to adjust accurate artillery fire on the insurgents until contact was broken. The extraordinary courage and professional competence displayed by Captain Floca during the hazardous situation were instrumental in greatly limiting American casualties, and significantly contributed to the defeat of the large North Vietnamese force. Captain Floca’s 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.