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 Rollie A. Port (ASN: US-50203121), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 9 March 1969 while serving as platoon sergeant of the Aero Rifle Platoon, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date when the platoon entered a heavily fortified enemy base camp, the lead squad came under intense hostile automatic weapons fire and was pinned down. Leaving the relative security of his own position, Sergeant Port moved forward and personally took command of the trapped squad. After moving his lead squad into a more secure position, he led another squad in an attempt to flank the enemy position. After moving a short distance, he and his men came under intense enemy fire. Ignoring the hostile fire, Sergeant Port moved to his remaining squad and tried to flank the enemy on the other side. During this maneuver, the squad took two casualties. Exposing himself to the enemy fire, Sergeant Port pulled the wounded men into a nearby bomb crater. When an evacuation helicopter arrived, he began assisting the wounded aboard the ship. Suddenly, the helicopter came under intense hostile fire, causing it to crash and seriously wounding him and another man. Despite his painful wounds, Sergeant Port again reorganized his platoon into a defensive position and administered aid to the wounded. Although temporarily blinded by his injuries, he refused to be medically evacuated until friendly forces arrived to overcome the enemy. Only after all the wounded men had been evacuated and the enemy destroyed did Sergeant Port allow himself to be removed from the contact area. Sergeant Port’s courage and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.