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 a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Armor) Robert D. Hurt, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 12 August 1969 while serving as the Commanding Officer of Company H, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date he led his tank company to reinforce an armored troop that was engaged with an estimated enemy battalion. Because all of the troops officers and noncommissioned officers had been wounded and evacuated Captain Hurt assumed command of all the friendly elements and grouped them to assault the hostile fortifications. After air strikes and artillery fire had been stopped he led his vehicles through the hostile complex. While he was directing the attack and supervising the evacuation of friendly casualties, his tank was hit by an enemy rocket propelled grenade. Nevertheless he continued to expose himself to the hostile fire to ensure that all of the wounded were evacuated safely. When the enemy fire intensified Captain Hurt ordered his men to withdraw and called in air and artillery support. He continued to lead the friendly force until the hostile positions had been neutralized and eighty-eight enemy soldiers had been killed. Captain Hurt’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.