The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Joseph P. Sowa, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as Forward Air Controller near May Tao Mountain, Phuoc Tuy Province, Republic of Vietnam on 7 October 1967. On that date, Captain Sowa, disregarding his own safety, purposely flew his unarmed O-1 aircraft very low over unfriendly positions to locate sources of heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire in the vicinity of a large base camp area. When support aircraft arrived, intense anti-aircraft fire erupted and he remained in his vulnerable position to pinpoint the sources of fire and direct their destruction. As a result of his heroic actions, the hostile forces were driven out and their base camp complex was totally destroyed. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Sowa has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.