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 Warrant Officer One (WO-1) Justin G. Ballou (ASN: W-3160187), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 29 October 1968 while serving as a helicopter pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Warrant Officer Ballou was conducting a reconnaissance mission over dense jungle terrain when he observed a Viet Cong platoon in the dense undergrowth. He reported the enemy’s position to the troop commander and expertly marked the hostile positions with smoke grenades. Although his aircraft received five hits from the intense ground fire, he continued to make low level passes over the location for over an hour, directing his own fire and the fire from a fire team into the Viet Cong positions. When his aircraft had expended all its ordnance and was running low on fuel, he returned to his home station, procured another aircraft and returned to the area of contact. When he observed two enemy soldiers attempting to evade the friendly forces, he pinpointed their position and kept them under observation until they were surrounded and captured. Warrant Officer Ballou’s unwavering devotion to duty, exceptional flying ability and disregard of his personal safety while under hostile fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.