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 Captain Gerald Harry Felix (AFSN: FR-78639), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as an F-100 Pilot of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action at Song Be, Republic of Vietnam, in action on 18 February 1968. On that date, at 0430 hours, Captain Felix was scrambled from the Bien Hoa alert facility to provide close air support to the friendly ground forces defending the besieged city of Song Be, which was under heavy human wave and mortar attack. Despite the intense hostile ground fire, near impossible visibility conditions, and the mountainous terrain, Captain Felix courageously pressed his attack on the hostile mortar sites, making repeated low level, low angle passes through the dense smoke from the burning city for one solid hour, delivering his ordnance with unerring accuracy. He clearly displayed exceptional gallantry by making repeated passes through the intense hostile ground fire, refusing to drop his ordnance under any other than release parameters that would insure an accurately placed bomb and the neutralization of the main Viet Cong offensive and mortar sites. His skill and heroism broke the Viet Cong offensive and relieved the friendly forces of the disastrous barrages being directed at them. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Felix has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.