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 Lieutenant Colonel Paul Mason Ingram (AFSN: FR-20232), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action. Lieutenant Colonel Mason distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing force as an F-100 Pilot with the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, SEVENTH Air Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 19 August 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Colonel Ingram was a member of a flight of three F-100’s who provided fighter air support enabling the rescue of two downed United States Army helicopter crewmen under attack by an overwhelming hostile force. Responding instantly to the request for support by the crew of the downed aircraft, Lieutenant Colonel Ingram, completely disregarding his own personal safety, voluntarily executed continuous low altitude dry passes through extremely heavy hostile automatic weapons fire to protect the downed aircrew until rescue forces arrived. When a Forward Air Controller arrived and cleared his flight to expend ordnance, Lieutenant Colonel Ingram’s outstanding courage and unerring accuracy directly resulted in the successful defense and recovery of the two downed aircrew members and inflicted severe damage upon the hostile weapons positions. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Colonel Ingram has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.