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 Lane W. Lauckhart (ASN: RA-19594195), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 14 May 1968 while serving as an assault vehicle commander with Troop A. 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Sergeant Lauckhart was participating in the assault of the heavily fortified village of Tan Than Dong which was occupied by an estimated North Vietnamese Army battalion. As the Troop approached the northern end of the village it came under an intense barrage of enemy fire. Sergeant Lauckhart, seeing that the troop commander was engaged in directing air and artillery strikes against the hostile positions exposed himself to the fierce hostile fire and, by the use of hand and arm signals, directed the troops advance on the enemy positions. As he was directing the troop movements, a hand grenade exploded nearby, severely wounding him. Although in great pain, he immediately directed his assault vehicle to a position between the enemy forces and a tank which had received a direct hit from an antitank rocket, and he continued to provide protection for his wounded comrades until they were evacuated. He continued to place highly accurate fire upon the North Vietnamese Army fighting positions until his weapon malfunctioned. He then positioned himself in an extremely vulnerable position, and threw hand grenades and directed fire from a nearby tank into a rocket propelled grenade position until it was silenced. Staff Sergeant Lauckhart’s unwavering devotion to duty, disregard of personal safety while under hostile fire and deep concern for the welfare of his men were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.