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 Staff Sergeant David W. Tincher, United States Army, for gallantry in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 17 August 1969, while serving as a section chief with Battery C, 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery. On that day, Sergeant Tincher was in command of an M42A1, twin 40-mm. gun, providing security for an engineer mine sweep team along Highway One north of Landing Zone LOW BOY. Without warning, an estimated company of North Vietnamese regulars launched a deadly ambush. Sergeant Tincher’s vehicle, the first vehicle to enter the kill zone, received a direct hit by a B-40 rocket, and Sergeant Tincher and the driver were wounded. Although seriously wounded in the chest and right arm and blinded in one eye by fragments of the rocket, Sergeant Tincher left the truck commander’s hatch and began to direct fire on the enemy position until another B-40 rocket exploded on the track’s rear deck, wounding Sergeant Tincher in the right leg. Seconds later, a third rocket rendered the armament useless. Despite intense fire and though seriously wounded, Sergeant Tincher directed evacuation of the track and deployed the crew members in a hasty defensive position where he administered first aid to the wounded members of the crew until a medical evacuation helicopter arrived. Sergeant Tincher displayed unfaltering courage and inspiring leadership in his concern for his men and in his quick and effective engagement of the enemy. Sergeant Tincher’s extraordinary heroism in close combat against a numerically superior force was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.