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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Earl Harris, Jr. (AFSN: 0-18405), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as Aircraft Commander of an AC-47 of the 4th Air Commando Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, SEVENTH Air Force, in action near Pleiku Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, on 5 May 1968. On that morning, about 02:30 hours, while en route to defend an outpost west of Pleiku, the crew observed hostile rockets being launched from a small village. As Colonel Harris engaged the hostile positions, his aircraft was subjected to intense ground fire. He completely disregarded his own safety in an effort to quell the hostile attack. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Colonel Harris has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.