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 Private First Class Ramiro Castellon, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 17 July 1969, while serving as a machine gunner with the 919th Engineer Company (Armored), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Private Castellon’s platoon was called upon to aid a convoy which had come under intense small arms, automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire from an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese Army regulars south of An Loc. As his platoon moved into the center of the contact, he placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions. During the fierce engagement Private Castellon observed an enemy rocket team that was placing heavy fire on the friendly force. While he engaged the team with his machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade impacted nearby, wounding him in the face, chest and arms. Ignoring his wounds, he picked up his rifle, dismounted his vehicle and assaulted the enemy position. His accurate fire killed one of the enemy gunners and wounded the other. Private First Class Castellon’s outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.