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 Specialist Fourth Class Ernest Echavarria Serrano (ASN: RA-18865352), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 12 May 1969, while serving as a Medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date elements of the battalion made contact with a well-entrenched, numerically superior enemy force using small arms and automatic weapons. In the early moments of the engagement when a friendly soldier was seriously wounded, Specialist Serrano maneuvered fifty meters across open terrain to administer aid to the casualty. Specialist Serrano then helped move the man to an evacuation point. During two more assaults on the enemy positions, he volunteered to be with the forward elements so that he could give immediate aid to the wounded. By repeatedly exposing himself to the hostile fusillade, he was able to administer aid to a total of thirty-seven casualties during the fierce six-hour battle. As a result of his skillful and prompt treatment, only fourteen of these casualties had to be evacuated. Specialist Fourth Class Serrano’s courage and 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.

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 a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Specialist Fourth Class Ernest Echavarria Serrano (ASN: RA-18865352), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 1 March 1969, while serving as a Medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date during a reconnaissance operation in a booby trapped area near Binh Phoc, the platoon of which he was a member suddenly came under intense enemy fire and several men were wounded. Although wounded during the initial contact, Specialist Serrano began moving toward one of the casualties. Again Specialist Serrano was hit by enemy fire, but he finally reached his wounded comrade and administered emergency aid. Refusing to be evacuated for his own wounds, Specialist Serrano continued to assist the friendly casualties until all of them had been treated and evacuated. Specialist Fourth Class Serrano’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.