The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Charles Roland Upshaw (MCSN: 0-79074), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO (HMM-362), on 2 June 1967. Captain Upshaw was piloting the second aircraft in a two-plane section assigned the mission of direct support of India Company, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines located eleven miles northwest of Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam. Captain Upshaw’s flight was called upon to perform an emergency medical evacuation from a besieged unit. As the flight leader was waiting in the landing zone for the MEDEVACS, his aircraft was struck in the engine by a 57-mm. recoilless rifle round resulting in a violent explosion and immediate fire, seriously wounding all crewmembers. Captain Upshaw observed the explosion and immediately executed a high-speed, maximum rate of descent, spiral approach to a landing zone that was the scene of a raging fire fight. With cool resolve and great courage he patiently waited three to four minutes until seven medical evacuees (four helicopter crewmen, and three ground Marines) were carried to his aircraft. Observing the furiously burning helicopter, which he had landed near to expedite the pickup, Captain Upshaw attempted to lift his overloaded plane from the zone. He was unable to do so; however, with great skill and still under intense fire Captain Upshaw bounced his aircraft clear, as the crippled aircraft blew up raining debris over the zone. Several more attempts were make to take-off, during which Captain Upshaw’s aircraft received a crippling hit in the engine which reduced its already inadequate power. Captain Upshaw, realizing any further delay would probably result in the destruction of his aircraft, ordered his gunner and the ambulatory wounded to evacuate the aircraft, and proceed to a third aircraft which had landed nearby. He then attempted another take-off, and when the aircraft still would not lift he directed his crew chief to leave the aircraft and join the gunner and ambulatory wounded in the other helicopter. Finally, still under enemy fire, Captain Upshaw skillfully coaxed his damaged and laboring helicopter in the air. With the engine partially destroyed, and only developing a fraction of its original power, it would have been reasonable for Captain Upshaw to land in a safe area at the first opportunity. Remembering the badly wounded Marines in the cabin below, Captain Upshaw elected to fly the twenty-five miles to the hospital company at Chu Lai. By so doing he arrived in time to save the life of the critically wounded. Captain Upshaw’s grim determination, compassion for his wounded comrades, uncommon courage, and heroic selflessness were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.