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 First Sergeant Gene O. Helgeson (ASN: RA-27350564), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 17 December 1966, while serving as First Sergeant of Company D, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (airmobile), during an air assault mission in the highway 506 Valley near Bong Son, Republic of Vietnam. Moments after leaving the landing zone, First Sergeant Helgeson’s company came under a heavy enemy attack, during which the acting company commander was mortally wounded. First Sergeant Helgeson and one of the platoon leaders immediately took charge of the company. When the commander of a nearby company was seriously wounded, First Sergeant Helgeson raced across 50 meters of open, fire-swept terrain to effect a link-up between the two units. He then directed the two-company assault forward through heavy enemy fire until the units were less than 40 meters from the enemy positions, racing forward on two occasions to pull wounded men to safety and establish an evacuation system. When the Battalion medical shock team arrive, First Sergeant Helgeson went forward still another time to direct the team to the remaining wounded men. He then pulled back and helped establish a defensive perimeter for the night. After coordinating a night medical evacuation and distributing vitally needed ammunition to each position in the perimeter, First Sergeant Helgeson received word that still another wounded man was lying forward of the perimeter. With complete disregard for his own safety, and fully aware that the enemy controlled the area outside the perimeter, First Sergeant Helgeson volunteered to lead the medical shock team forward to search for the wounded soldier. First Sergeant Helgeson’s repeated gallant actions under intense enemy fire are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.