The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Hubert Clarence VanPoll (ASN: 19488345), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant VanPoll distinguished himself by exceptionally valor action as a member of Detachment A-219, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, on 1 May 1967, while serving as Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese platoon during operations in the enemy controlled Dak Akoi Valley. When informed that a friendly unit was trapped by a well-armed North Vietnamese force, Sergeant VanPoll immediately organized elements of his platoon and led a mission to free the beleaguered unit. Heedless of the ravaging enemy fire, he maneuvered his troops into tactical positions and began delivering accurate fire into the hostile machine gun emplacements. He then led an advance and forced the enemy gunners to abandon their positions. Upon contact with the besieged unit, the friendly forces began receiving voluminous mortar fire which seriously wounded an American advisor. Sergeant VanPoll courageously charged through the onslaught of North Vietnamese fire to aid his wounded comrade. Disregarding his own safety, he pulled the man through the thick vegetation and hail of enemy bullets to safety. Sergeant VanPoll, realizing the growing danger to the friendly units, called in and directed air strikes on the North Vietnamese forces, driving them into retreat. His exemplary professionalism and determination were directly responsible for the prevention of extensive friendly casualties and the subsequent defeat of an enemy unit. Staff Sergeant VanPoll’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.