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 Charles C. Crabb, Jr. (AFSN: 0-3155899), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a UH-1F Helicopter Gunship Aircraft Commander, near Duc Lap, Republic of Vietnam, on 23 August 1968. On that date, Captain Crabb voluntarily descended into an extremely hostile area from which he had just received intense ground fire, while defending the Duc Lap Special Forces Camp, in order to aid in the rescue of a downed American pilot. By fling an extremely low level firing pass over the scene of the rescue, Captain Crabb drew the hostile ground fire to his aircraft enabling the rescue party to reach safety. Only after his co-pilot had been wounded and his aircraft damaged by hostile ground fire did Captain Crabb depart the area. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Crabb reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.