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 Michael B. Gill, United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 18 June 1969 while serving as an aerial observer with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date the command and control ship of the Air Cavalry Troop was shot down by intense hostile fire near An Loc. Specialist Gill and his pilot were flying a scout helicopter and observed the crash. After landing through a hail of enemy fire, Specialist Gill grabbed an M-60 machine gun and dashed to the fallen craft, over one hundred meters away. While moving toward the aircraft he fired bursts of machine gun fire to help stop the enemy’s advance. Upon reaching the burning and exploding ship, he has helped to remove the pilot and then raced around to the side to pull out the two gunners, but the intense heat was too great. After establishing a defensive position, he remained on the ground for over thirty minutes fending off the determined North Vietnamese force until reinforcements arrived to handle the assault. Specialist Fourth Class Gill’s unwavering devotion to duty and complete disregard for his personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.