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) Edward L. Horton, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 17 April 1969 while serving as an aviator with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Lieutenant Horton was flying as an escort for a convoy which was moving through dense jungle near a Michelin Rubber plantation. Suddenly the round force came under intense barrages of small arms, automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fire from an unknown size North Vietnamese Army force. He flew over the area marking enemy positions with smoke grenades and placing effective suppressive fire with machine gun. Although subject to intense volleys of hostile fire he circled over the enemy calling artillery and gunship strikes. In the middle of the fight an evacuation ship was unable to land to evacuate several wounded men so Lieutenant Horton volunteered to make the hazardous landing. Skillfully he maneuvered the ship down until he was directly over a bunker which was engaging the helicopter with intense automatic weapons. Intimidating the enemy by this maneuver he landed on top of it and the other pilot leaped out and killed the occupants while Lieutenant Horton maintained the position. Afterwards he helped to move the seriously wounded men into the ship and again he skillfully moved his ship out of the dangerous area transporting the injured troopers to the nearest medical facility saving several lives. First Lieutenant Horton’s leadership, disregard for his own safety and concern for the welfare of his comrades were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.