The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Stephan Alexander Hanvey, United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving in the Republic of Vietnam, on 28 August 1971, as a Pilot attached to Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron THREE. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hanvey was Aircraft Commander of a helicopter gunship shot down by enemy fire which crashed into the mouth of the Mekong River along the South China Sea about fifty meters from the Long Toan District shoreline. He and his crew attempted to swim to the middle of the river against the incoming tide to avoid capture by enemy troops on the nearby shore. During this time, fifteen to twenty enemy soldiers ran out of the trees and waded into the water, firing at him and his crew. Hearing one of his crewmen call for help, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hanvey looked back toward the beach and saw an injured crewman bleeding from the head, completely exhausted and ready to fall into unconsciousness from his struggle against the tidal current. Though injured himself, he completely disregarded his own personal safety and swam through a barrage of small arms fire to the exhausted crewman and swam with the injured man in tow toward the middle of the river. As the enemy fire increased in intensity, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hanvey was forced to deflate his own floatation gear and frequently swam under water to present a small target. When the injured crewman regained his strength and they were relatively safe from the enemy fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hanvey re-inflated his flotation equipment and stayed with the injured crewman in the river while still under sporadic enemy fire until rescued by helicopter. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hanvey’s leadership, devotion to the welfare of his men and courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.