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 Specialist Fourth Class Jerry Yates (ASN: RA-16895642), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 14 May 1968 while serving as a driver with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Cu Chi, Troop A was engaged in the assault of a heavily fortified enemy position. The tank Specialist Yates was driving had penetrated the initial defenses on the edge of the hostile village when suddenly three enemy soldiers rose from different bunkers and fired from point blank range at the tank. The initial burst of fire wounded the tank commander and gunner and set off a hand grenade on top of the tank rendering all control elements in the fighting compartment useless. Unable to determine the extent of damage by means of the vehicle intercom he climbed from the drivers compartment completely exposing himself to small arms, automatic weapons and antitank rocket fire to fully analyze the extent of the damage to the vehicle. He quickly relayed the damages to his platoon leader and requested medical evacuation for his wounded comrades. He again exposed himself to the highly accurate hostile fire to assist in removing the tank commander from the turret and placing him under cover behind the vehicle. The intensity of the hostile fire prevented Specialist Yates from reentering the tank and pinned him against the cargo rack on the back deck of the vehicle. Armed only with his pistol Specialist Yates returned fire killing one of the hostile soldiers. Specialist Yates and his crewmate then reentered the vehicle and returned the hostile fire with both the main gun and machine guns destroying a number of the hostile positions. Only when the ammunition for the weapons was expended did Specialist Yates ask for permission to withdraw. Specialist Yates’ unwavering devotion to duty and deep concern for the welfare of his comrades in arms while under hostile fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.