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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Stephen Joseph Steriti (ASN: RA-11448670), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Private First Class Steriti distinguished himself on 8 May 1966 while serving as point man during a search and destroy mission along a narrow jungle trail near the Cambodian border in the Republic of Vietnam. With keen alertness, Private First Class Steriti detected a Viet Cong ambush consisting of at least two machine guns and several individual positions. Private First Class Steriti aggressively assaulted the first Viet Cong machine gun, firing from his hip, killing one insurgent and forcing the other crew members to flee. While charging the second machine gun, he was critically wounded. Although bleeding profusely, Private First Class Steriti crawled toward the insurgent position firing his weapon until he died. His valiant actions disrupted the Viet Cong ambush and prevented numerous casualties. Private First Class Steriti’s devotion to duty and extraordinary heroism against a numerically superior hostile force were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.