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 John Dennis Freppon (ASN: RA-11654412), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division on 30 October 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, during Operation SHENANDOAH II, Private First Class Freppon was serving as a rifleman on a search and destroy mission near Loc Ninh. His unit was moving in a large rubber plantation when they were engaged by a numerically superior Viet Cong force employing hand grenades, machine guns, and automatic weapons. Machine gun fire emanating from a Viet Cong bunker was inflicting heavy casualties on the friendly force. As his comrades provided covering fire, Private First Class Freppon began to maneuver against the enemy bunker. He was nearing the complex when he was spotted and taken under fire by the insurgents. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Private First Class Freppon charged forward and overran the bunker. He succeeded in killing the three Viet Cong manning the machine gun and captured valuable equipment. Ignoring relentless enemy fire from other positions, he continued to move forward and place deadly fire onto the insurgents. This enabled the remainder of his company to advance and subsequently rout the hostile force. His bold initiative and dauntless courage significantly contributed to the overwhelming defeat of the Viet Cong and he was undoubtedly responsible for saving the lives of several fellow soldiers. Private First Class Freppon’s unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.