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 Captain (Infantry) John Joseph Garrity, Jr. (ASN: 0-90813), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Captain Garrity distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 30 January 1967 while serving as Senior Battalion Advisor to the 38th Ranger Battalion, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Captain Garrity accompanied the Battalion Commander in the command and control helicopter during a helilift search and destroy operation in the vicinity of Tra Cu, Hau Nghia Province. After observing the 1st and 2d Companies achieve their objectives, Captain Garrity observed that the 4th Company, which had been assigned a blocking mission, was occupying the wrong position. The command group, consisting of five individuals, landed in order to contact the company commander of the 4th Company and correct he situation. While en route to the 4th Company command post which was 300 meters from the landing site, the five-man battalion command group suddenly came under heavy small arms fire from a Viet Cong ambush to the front. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Garrity, acting alone, charged the enemy position, firing his rifle. During this heroic charge, he killed three Viet Cong and routed the remainder as he reached the ambush site. The fleeing ambushers retreated into the path of an approaching Vietnamese unit and were subsequently killed. Captain Garrity’s instantaneous reaction in the face of almost certain death saved the lives of the members of the battalion command group and turned what appeared to be certain disaster into an inspiring victory. Captain Garrity’s conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the military service.