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 First Lieutenant (Armor) Charles W. Locklin, Jr. (ASN: 0-5233419), United States Army, for gallantry in action involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 14 February 1968, while serving as a platoon leader with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Locklin’s platoon was dispatched to reinforce an infantry company which had engaged a heavily armed Viet Cong force near the town of Pho Loi. Organizing his armored cavalry assault vehicles into an offensive formation, Lieutenant Locklin led them through the thick jungle to engage the numerically superior Viet Cong force. As they moved through the dense vegetation, the flank elements encountered intense volume of antitank, automatic, and semi-automatic weapons fire. Observing that the left flank assault vehicle had received a direct hit from an antitank rocket, Lieutenant Locklin, completely disregarded the intense hostile fire, dismounted his vehicle and ran to the aid of the stricken crew members. Courageously exposing himself to the heavy barrage of enemy fire Lieutenant Locklin personally delivered a devastating volume of fire upon the Viet Cong while directing the evacuation of the wounded. Although seriously wounded during this action, he remained in command until the beleaguered enemy was forced to retreat. Lieutenant Locklin’s unwavering devotion to duty and disregard of personal safety while under hostile fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.