The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Sergeant Raymond Thomas Delano, Jr. (ASN: RA-51531956), United States Army, for heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 13 November 1966. On this date, Sergeant Delano was serving as the Artillery Reconnaissance Sergeant, Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry. Company A was conducting search and destroy operations near the Cambodian border when they engaged a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Delano carried his radio through intensive sniper and small arms fire in order to insure that the artillery forward observer had continuous communications. During the action, he frequently shielded the forward observer from enemy fire to allow him to direct effective artillery fire on the enemy’s position. On several occasions he left his relatively secure position to aid the hard-pressed infantrymen on the perimeter to fight off repeated human wave attacks. His contributions to both the perimeter defense and artillery support were instrumental in repulsing the large, determined enemy force. Sergeant Delano’s courage and determination are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.