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 Roger Dale Champ (ASN: RA-52570368), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Champ distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 January 1970 while serving as Platoon Sergeant on a combat support operation near the village of Hog Son. Sergeant Champ was directed to provide security and fire support for a recovery team while it removed damaged vehicles from the scene of an enemy ambush. When Sergeant Champ’s armored vehicle arrived at the ambush site he and the members of his crew began receiving heavy automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire. Without hesitation Sergeant Champ manned a machine gun and began firing on the enemy emplacements located in the immediate vicinity. Throughout the ensuing battle he directed the retaliatory fire of his crew and, at the risk of his own life, leaped from his armored vehicle and rushed to the aid of a fallen comrade. Under intense hostile fire, Sergeant Champ helped carry the wounded soldier and an elderly Vietnamese man to a waiting helicopter to be evacuated from the battle site. Sergeant Champ then returned to his armored vehicle and again manned a machine gun, engaging the enemy until contact was finally broken. Sergeant Champ’s courageous actions and valiant leadership during the three hour assault succeeded in thwarting a determined enemy attack and saving the lives of many military and civilian personnel in the area. His extraordinary heroism was in the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.