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 Sergeant Eugene M. Burns, Jr. (ASN: RA-12844363), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 24 November 1968 while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle commander with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Sergeant Burns participated in a dismounted reconnaissance patrol through an area of dense jungle terrain. Suddenly the small friendly force came under intensive enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. During the opening moments of contact the point man was critically wounded and pinned down by the heavy concentration of enemy fire. Sergeant Burns, observing his comrade’s desperate position, crawled through the hail of fire to aid the wounded man. As Sergeant Burns moved through the enemy fire, he observed that the troop commander had been wounded and he immediately crawled to his position and carried him to an area of relative safety where his wounds could be treated. Completing this task, Sergeant Burns returned to the point man’s position and evacuated him to a rear area to receive medical attention. Noticing a third wounded comrade, Sergeant Burns again displayed extraordinary courage by moving through the profuse hostile machine gun fire to administer first aid and evacuate the wounded trooper. Upon completing this courageous act, he was wounded attempting to recover the unit’s radio. Sergeant Burns’ unwavering devotion to duty, personal bravery and concern for his comrades in arms were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.