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 Sergeant First Class Frederick James Lechak (ASN: RA-15543842), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam as a member of Detachment A-244, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Lechak distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 June 1967 while serving as Special Forces Advisor to a Vietnamese company during a search and destroy mission in hostile territory. Sergeant Lechak’s unit was probed by Viet Cong elements throughout the previous night. At dawn, the insurgents launched an all out attack. Sergeant Lechak directed the defenders on the western portion of the perimeter and succeeded in staving off four assaults. Hostile fire was intense and the friendly unit suffered many casualties, but Sergeant Lechak moved freely through exposed areas to position his men and guide their fire. The Viet Cong finally launched an attack directed primarily at his sector. He fought boldly at the front of his men, rallying them to repulse the insurgents. Seeing that additional firepower was needed, he ran to obtain a machine gun for his position. Sergeant Lechak was mortally wounded in this attempt to strengthen the defensive posture of his unit. Sergeant First Class Lechak’s gallantry in action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.