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 Platoon Sergeant John M. Keator (ASN: RA-5423360), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force while serving with Company H, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. On 23 March 1967 during Operation JUNCTION CITY, Sergeant Keator was serving as platoon sergeant for his unit on a search and destroy mission. As the platoon moved through the dense jungles of Tay Ninh Province the lead tank which Sergeant Keator commanded was subjected to intense automatic weapons and recoilless rifle fire from numerically superior hostile force. Two of the anti-tank rounds truck the fuel tanks and engine compartment of Sergeant Keator’s tank causing it to burst into flames. He immediately activated the fire extinguishers of the burning tank while simultaneously ordering the driver to move forward toward the well-fortified Viet Cong positions. Sergeant Keator then directed a heavy volume of high explosive 90-mm. rounds into the enemy’s position silencing the recoilless rifle and killing eight of the enemy. When his vehicle was completely engulfed in flames Sergeant Keator ordered his crew to abandon the tank while he covered their exit with heavy suppressive fire from his .50 caliber machine-gun. After the three crew men had safely reached another tank Sergeant Keator jumped from his flaming vehicle and rant to a nearby tank. He then reassumed command of the fire team and led them in an assault through extremely heavy enemy fire and succeeded in completely routing the enemy force. Platoon Sergeant Keator’s unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.