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 Staff Sergeant Dale Edward Stewart (ASN: RA-16915659), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Stewart distinguished himself while serving as Senior Medic and Platoon Leader during combat operations near Camp Ben Het. After five days of searching for enemy activity in the area, Sergeant Stewart’s platoon made contact with well-entrenched enemy elements. Despite intense enemy automatic weapons fire, Sergeant Stewart immediately deployed his platoon in an assault of the enemy position. Continuously exposing himself to the enemy fire, he moved throughout his platoon directing their fire and administering first aid to the wounded. When Sergeant Stewart learned that one of his men had been wounded far in advance of the friendly forces, he immediately ran seventy-five meters through intense enemy automatic weapons fire to aid his fallen comrade. The sergeant then directed helicopter air support to within forty meters of his position in an attempt to suppress enemy fire. Under the cover of gunship fire, Sergeant Stewart carried the wounded soldier to a relatively safe rear position. He then supervised the preparation of a landing zone so that the wounded could be evacuated by helicopter ambulance. Staff Sergeant Stewart’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.