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 Command Sergeant Major Robert J. Crowe, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 18 June 1969, while serving as the Command Sergeant Major with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while conducting a visual reconnaissance mission near An Loc, another helicopter carrying a troop commander was shot down, landing only thirty meters from a village containing an unknown number of North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Sergeant Major Crowe immediately volunteered to fly down with the regimental commander to help rescue the injured crewmen. Ignoring the intense volleys of automatic weapons fire, Sergeant Major Crowe used his weapon to maintain a constant stream of suppressive fire. When the ship landed he continued to fire on the enemy positions, providing covering fire while a wounded man was placed within the relative safety of the ship. He helped to administer fire aid and then remained on the ground to help the regimental commander organize an armored assault on the hostile emplacements. After securing the area, he continued with the aircraft in the reconnaissance mission. Command Sergeant Major Crowe’s gallant actions and outstanding 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.