The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Nicholas Easton Burke (MCSN: 0-74930), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Observation Squadron SIX (VMO-6), Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 14 February 1967, while attached to a United States Army Special Forces, Special Operations Group, Captain Burke launched as Aircraft Commander of an armed UH-1E helicopter assigned the mission of supporting a beleaguered Army unit in Kontum Province. Arriving over the besieged unit, he directed rocket and automatic weapons fire against the Viet Cong despite intense enemy fire, total darkness and rugged mountain terrain. Repeatedly delivering his ordnance on the enemy with pin-point accuracy, he enabled the ground unit to break contact with the Viet Cong and withdraw with its wounded. Upon being informed that the team leader of the ground unit was critically wounded, Captain Burke steadfastly remained on station to attempt an extraction of the injured man. Although the time required to move the seriously wounded man to a possible pickup site far exceeded his aircraft’s safe fuel supply, and necessary illumination in the area would exposed his aircraft to concentrated enemy fire, he courageously began delivering suppressive fire for the withdrawing Army unit. Displaying exceptional aeronautical ability, he maneuvered his aircraft under a dense overhead canopy and hovered only five feet above rugged forty-foot tree stumps, on the side of a steep slope, with the aircraft’s rotor blades less than two feet from the overhanging canopy. Further handicapped by blinding flares, blowing dust and debris, and constantly exposed to enemy fire, Captain Burke maintained his extremely dangerous position for ten minutes until the rescue operation was completed. Demonstrating superior professional skill and aided only by the directions of the crew chief, he departed the evacuation site by maneuvering his aircraft backward out of the hazardous zone. After expending his remaining ordnance against the enemy positions, he expeditiously returned the critically injured man to a medical facility. His courageous actions and exemplary initiative were instrumental in saving the life of the wounded man and were an inspiration to all who served with him. By his courage, outstanding aeronautical ability and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Burke upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.