The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Carl Eugene Bergman (MCSN: 0-92979), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (HMM-163), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 16 February 1968, Captain Bergman launched as Wingman for a flight of two UH-34 helicopters in support of an emergency extraction of an eight-man reconnaissance team which was heavily engaged with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force six miles northwest of Dong Ha. After his flight leader had evacuated five of the team members, Captain Bergman skillfully maneuvered his aircraft toward the landing zone and immediately came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire. On three separate occasions, he courageously approached the area, but was unable to locate the landing site due to thick vegetation and the smoke from exploding ordnance. Observing the landing point on the fourth approach, he unhesitatingly landed in the fire-swept zone and attempted to pinpoint the position of the three remaining Marines. Ignoring the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his aircraft, he steadfastly remained in the hazardous area until forced to lift out when his crew chief and gunner were seriously wounded and his aircraft sustained major damage to vital components. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Captain Bergman upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.