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 Specialist Fourth Class John A. Bergen, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 30 March 1969 while serving as a Medical Aidman with 3d Squadron D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date when the company made contact with a large, heavily-fortified enemy force, one of the friendly vehicles almost immediately received two direct anti-tank rocket hits, seriously wounding three of the crew members. Ignoring the intense hostile automatic weapons and small arms fire, Specialist Bergen ran seventy-five meters through exposed terrain to the disabled vehicle. After quickly moving two of the casualties to the relative safety of the rear of the vehicle, he began attempting to extract the wounded driver. Although Specialist Bergen was wounded and knocked to the ground by another impacting anti-tank rocket, he immediately remounted the vehicle and resumed his efforts to rescue the wounded driver. In spite of additional wounds that he sustained from enemy small arms fire, Specialist Bergen succeeded in moving his wounded comrade to safety. Disregarding his own wounds and the hostile fusillade, Specialist Bergen administered medical assistance to the wounded personnel until he was assured that all of them had been properly treated. Only then did he have his wounds cared for. Specialist Fourth Class Bergen’s outstanding courage, devotion to duty and deep concern for the welfare of his fellow soldiers were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.