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 Lieutenant Colonel (Armor) Arthur F. Cochran (ASN: 0-63604), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel Cochran distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 June 1967, while serving as Commanding Officer during a fierce Viet Cong attack on the Command Post of the 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. During the early morning hours, the Command Post was attacked by two Viet Cong main force battalions reinforced by divisional and regimental heavy weapons units. This hostile force was tailored specifically to destroy an armored formation. From the onset of the intense battle, Colonel Cochran was the single, most vital factor that effectively united the forces deployed on the perimeter and the fires of artillery, mortars, light fire teams and tactical air force into a cohesive unit to overcome the concentrated enemy attack and decisively defeat the Viet Cong forces. Throughout the encounter with the hostile force, Colonel Cochran repeatedly exposed himself to the intense volume of enemy fire to ascertain the complete extent of the insurgent action and to direct the reorganization of troops and the placement of forces in support of the besieged defenders. Colonel Cochran’s dynamic leadership and extreme courage served as an inspirational example to the men, which spurred them to indomitable bravery and impenetrable resistance against the hail of Viet Cong fire. At dawn, the result of Colonel Cochran’s brilliant leadership was illustrated by the enemy-littered battlefield which revealed fifty-six Viet Cong dead, two Viet Cong prisoners of war, numerous enemy small arms, Viet Cong automatic and anti-tank weapons, and thousands of rounds of insurgent ammunition. Lieutenant Colonel Cochran’s extraordinary heroism in close combat against a numerically superior Viet Cong force is in keeping with the highest tradition of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the United States Army.