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 Ernest Durant, Jr. (ASN: RA-13868337), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force as a member of Battery A, 3d Battalion, 16th Artillery Regiment, Americal Division, on 4 March 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fourth Class Durant distinguished himself by acts of exceptional personal gallantry while attached as a forward observer to an armored cavalry squadron. On that date, Specialist Durant was accompanying a platoon on an area reconnaissance mission when they encountered numerically superior elements of the 3d North Vietnamese Army Regiment. In the ensuing four-hour battle, Specialist Durant displayed unquestionable bravery as he unhesitatingly mounted the .50 caliber machinegun position on the platoon leader’s track and placed a heavy volume of fire on the well-entrenched and heavily-fortified enemy positions. So accurate was his fire that several insurgents fled from their fortified bunkers in an attempt to escape. As the battle intensified, Specialist Durant was painfully wounded in the right forearm by flying shrapnel. Pausing only to apply a tourniquet to his wound, he re-mounted the machinegun and quickly directed a withering hail of fire on the enemy. So accurate and devastating was his fire that within seconds he had killed two enemy soldiers and destroyed their recoilless rifle. Specialist Durant continued to perform in a highly professional and valorous manner and sought medical assistance only after assured that the enemy force was completely routed. Specialist Fourth Class Durant’s unquestionable valor in close combat with a numerically superior hostile force was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.