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 Lieutenant Colonel (Armor) Merritte W. Ireland (ASN: 0-64546), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 11 January 1969 while serving as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Colonel Ireland received word that one of his platoons had become engaged by an enemy force of superior size and was in danger of being overrun. He immediately flew to the scene of the fierce engagement and set down in the middle of the fighting to make an accurate assessment of his units situation. As he was moving through the area he observed an enemy tank killer team attempting to fire upon the friendly forces. Reacting instantly, Colonel Ireland directed a number of his men to lay down suppressive fire upon the enemy position. Displaying a complete disregard for his safety he personally assaulted the enemy position. Completely exposed to the enemy fire he placed highly accurate and deadly fire upon the enemy killing two and capturing 3 weapons. Lieutenant Colonel Ireland’s courage, dedication to duty and disregard for his personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

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 Lieutenant Colonel (Armor) Merritte W. Ireland (ASN: 0-64546), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 30 December 1968 while serving as Regimental Commander of the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while he was performing a routine bomb damage assessment operations he monitored a transmission stating that one of his troops was heavily engaged with an enemy force. Colonel Ireland immediately directed his pilot to fly to the scene of the fire fight and upon arriving at the scene of the engagement directed him to land the craft in the vicinity of the friendly forces. In coordination with the troop commander he began directing the assault upon the hostile positions. When the troop commander was wounded by a burst of small arms fire, Colonel Ireland ignoring the intense hostile fire in the immediate area, flanked the enemy troops and engaged them with his personal weapon. When he had expended his ammunition he mounted the wounded troop commander’s assault vehicle and manning the mounted machine gun led an assault upon the hostile positions overrunning them. Upon observing a number of enemy soldiers attempting to escape the friendly forces, Colonel Ireland still under heavy enemy automatic weapons fire, dismounted his vehicle and pinned the hostile elements down with accurate grenade fire, facilitating their capture. L Lieutenant Colonel Ireland’s exceptional courage and unwavering dedication 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.