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 Richard A. Lutterbein, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 10 March 1970 while serving as a gunner on an armored cavalry assault vehicle with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while on a reconnaissance mission the troop encountered heavy small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from an estimated battalion sized North Vietnamese Army unit. Early in the contact, Specialist Lutterbein’s vehicle was taken under direct fire by having three enemy grenades landing on his vehicle. Specialist Lutterbein was able to return one of the grenades before it exploded, but the other two exploded, injuring two members of the vehicle. The impact of the explosion threw the two men off the vehicle and they landed in front of an enemy emplacement. Immediately Specialist Lutterbein dismounted his vehicle and charged the bunker with his rifle, enabling the medics to drag the two injured men to safety. He continued to assault the bunker, finally destroying it and the occupants by the use of hand grenades. Noticing that the progress of his platoon was being held up by two enemy bunkers, Specialist Lutterbein assaulted and destroyed them, all the while under intense enemy fire. Due to Specialist Lutterbein’s 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.