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 Herbert L. Fabian (ASN: US-52767033), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 11 January 1969, while serving as a Medic with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, when one platoon of his troop was attacked by an enemy force of superior size, the entire crew of his armored personnel carrier was wounded in the initial contact. Reacting instantly and disregarding his own safety Specialist Fabian assumed a fully-exposed position in order to administer first aid to his wounded comrades and move them to an evacuation site. Returning to the scene of the fierce engagement, he grabbed a machine gun and began directing suppressive fire upon the hostile forces. When he observed a number of wounded comrades in danger of being overrun by a group of enemy soldiers, he exposed himself to the full intensity of the enemy and, with devastating machine gun fire, killed three hostile troops and scattered the rest. He then continued to administer aid to his wounded comrades until the enemy positions had been overrun. Specialist Fourth Class Fabian’s courage, dedication to duty, and deep concern for the lives of his comrades 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 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Specialist Fifth Class Herbert L. Fabian (ASN: US-52767033), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with the gallantry in action while serving as a Medical Aidman with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 13 April 1969. During an engagement at an enemy base camp, Specialist Fifth Class Fabian voluntarily dismounted and left the relative safety of his Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle to provide aid to the wounded. Over the duration of the hour-long battle he made multiple trips to the front of the formation providing treatment to and evacuating the wounded Soldiers to the rear, aided in the retrieval of the numerous dead, and personally eliminated two of the enemy with his sidearm. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Specialist Fifth Class Fabian, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.