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 Philip Gaston Salois (ASN: 56737963), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fourth Class Salois distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 March 1970 while serving as a rifleman assigned to Company A, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade. On this date, Specialist Salois was participating in a platoon size operation when his unit was engaged by a platoon of North Vietnamese Army regular soldiers. In the initial moments of contact five members of the platoon became separated from the main element and were in extreme danger of being overrun by the enemy. Specialist Salois and two other men immediately volunteered to attempt the rescue of the stranded element. As they reached two of the trapped men, intense enemy fire forced Specialist Salois and his two comrades back to the platoon perimeter. When another soldier tried again to reach the trapped element, he was mortally wounded. Without regard for his personal safety, Specialist Salois maneuvered through the intense enemy fire and retrieved the body of his mortally wounded comrade. Then for a third time, Specialist Salois and another man left the perimeter, reached the separated element, and successfully maneuvered the stranded element back to the perimeter. Specialist Salois’ gallantry in action reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.