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 Sergeant Delano Presoz Ruiz (ASN: RA-18914375), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 7 September 1968. Sergeant Ruiz distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader in Company B, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, on a combat mission north of Cu Chi, Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Ruiz’s squad was the lead element of a platoon advancing to the aid of another element in heavy contact with a large enemy force. Upon crossing an open rice paddy, the squad was taken under machine gun and small arms fire by North Vietnamese Army Regulars, and his squad was held to a minimum of movement. Sergeant Ruiz quickly assessed the situation and acted. Without regard for his own safety, he began to move toward the machine gun. This drew much of the hostile fire to him, allowing his squad to move to better fighting positions and evacuate the wounded. Seeing that his men could give effective covering fire, he then crawled to within hand grenade range of the machine gun, threw grenades, and used automatic fire from his M-16 rifle to destroy the enemy position. He then moved to a position from which he could cover the advance of the remainder of his squad. As his squad moved into position, he checked to be sure that it was in the best location to cover the linking of the two elements. He then assisted in calling in air strikes and armed helicopter gunships on the enemy positions he had located. Through his quick thinking and courageous actions, he helped hold a large enemy force in a state of confusion and disorder until it could be destroyed. Sergeant Ruiz’s personal bravery and devotion 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.