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 Staff Sergeant Ashby W. Tyree, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 11 August 1969 while serving as a vehicle commander with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Quan Loi base camp came under an enemy sapper attack followed by a mortar and rocket attack and a ground assault. Sergeant Tyree, whose platoon was temporarily located at the base camp to perform maintenance on its vehicles, quickly mounted one of the assault vehicles and moved out to defend the perimeter. Disregarding the hostile small arms automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fire to which he was exposed, he fired a heavy machine gun at the attacking enemy troops until he ran out of ammunition. His accurate suppressive fire accounted for ten of the enemy killed. He then ran to another vehicle and manned another machine gun with which he killed seven more hostile troops before the barrel burned out. After obtaining more ammunition and another barrel, Sergeant Tyree returned to the perimeter and eliminated a rocket propelled grenade team which had been threatening a section of the perimeter. He then ran from vehicle to vehicle to distribute ammunition and to help evacuate wounded personnel. His heroic actions were instrumental in thwarting the determined enemy attack. Staff Sergeant Tyree’s outstanding courage, determination 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.