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 Staff Sergeant Kenneth R. Smith, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 14 April 1969 while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while conducting a combined reconnaissance mission in dense jungle near Dau Tieng, Sergeant Smith alertly spotted five enemy soldiers running from a bunker complex. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Smith engaged the hostile soldiers with his fifty-caliber machine gun, killing all five. The rest of the enemy troopers suddenly engaged the friendly force with rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons from well-concealed bunker positions. After the rest of the vehicles moved on line, Sergeant Smith continued to lead the assault, through at one point all the weapons on his vehicle malfunctioned, leaving his defenseless. When a nearby vehicle was damaged by an antitank rocket and the tank commander wounded, Sergeant Smith immediately maneuvered next to the tank and evacuated the injured man. After this mission was accomplished he returned to the fierce fire fight until the enemy had been routed. Staff Sergeant Smith’s gallant actions and deep concern for the welfare of his wounded comrade were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.