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 Captain (Armor) Garald R. Jacobsen (ASN: OF-105439), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 21 July 1968 while serving as the Commanding Officer of Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Company D was called upon to aid elements from the Special Forces camp at Loc Ninh, who had established contact with an enemy fore of unknown size. Arriving at the scene of the fierce engagement Captain Jacobsen found the friendly elements in danger of being overrun by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. Reacting instantly he maneuvered his tanks into the immediate vicinity of the friendly forces and provided heavy suppressive fire. After he determined the area of heaviest enemy troop concentration Captain Jacobsen then led the friendly forces in an assault upon the entrenched North Vietnamese Army elements. Throughout the fierce fire fight Captain Jacobsen remained fully exposed to the hostile fire directing precise air and artillery strikes at the enemy. During the battle Captain Jacobsen observed four enemy soldiers attempt to infiltrate the friendly positions. He immediately engaged them with his tanks weapons and quickly dispersed the force. The encounter resulted in twenty-one enemy killed in action and numerous weapons confiscated. Captain Jacobsen’s unwavering devotion to duty and disregard of 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.