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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second 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 17 April 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 he was part of a reaction force called to re-supply and assist one of the brigade’s companies during an engagement with an enemy force. When he arrived at the scene of the battle, all of the company’s medics had been wounded, and several friendly casualties were left unattended and pinned down by the hostile fire. Specialist Serrano maneuvered across the open terrain from man to man and administered emergency aid. For over two hours he braved the enemy fusillade to treat the wounded and evacuate them to safety. Specialist 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.