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 Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Kenneth C. McKenzie (ASN: 0-5424030), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force. First Lieutenant McKenzie distinguished himself by heroic actions on 25 November 1967, while serving with Battery B, 2d Battalion, 77th Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. Battery B was acting as a reactionary force for a friendly unit that was engaged with a numerically superior enemy force. The beleaguered unit’s forward observer had been killed, and Lieutenant McKenzie immediately directed artillery fire for the endangered unit. He observed several casualties, and fearlessly crawled through the devastating enemy fire to go to the aid of the wounded. He kept the advancing insurgents at bay by utilizing hand grenades, and successfully extracted one serious casualty. On his second attempt to help the injured, Lieutenant McKenzie was seriously wounded, and with complete disregard for his own safety, he continued to crawl toward his endangered comrades until he was forced to be evacuated. His valorous actions contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission and the defeat of the enemy force. Lieutenant McKenzie’s personal bravery, aggressiveness, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.