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 Sergeant James W. Leathers, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 7 September 1969 while serving as commander of a light armored vehicle with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop I was on reconnaissance mission when it suddenly came under an intense barrage of hostile fire from and unknown size North Vietnamese Army force. Sergeant Leathers immediately directed his vehicle on line and began assaulting the enemy. Suddenly his vehicle slid into a bomb crater and could not be extracted. While his crew continued to place maximum firepower on the enemy, he dismounted and directed another vehicle into the area to pull his from the crater. After his tank had been successfully removed, he continued to assault the enemy. At one point extremely heavy fire was received from a large bunker complex. He dismounted and assaulted it by throwing hand grenades, eliminating the threat. Sergeant Leathers’ actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.