HEADQUARTERS 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
APO San Francisco 96345

24 November 1966

AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL
(Posthumously)

1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced.
SMITH, TERRY L US53399140 SPECIALIST FOUR E4 United States Army
Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry

Awarded: Silver Star Medal

Effective Month: November 1966

Date of Action: 21 October 1966

Theater: Republic of Vietnam

Reason: For gallantry in action against a hostile force:

On this date, Specialist Smith was called with the rest of his platoon to provide security for several men who had been wounded by two command detonated Viet Cong claymore mines. The injured men were being harassed by an estimated ten men insurgent force in the jungle region south of Lai Khe base camp. Immediately upon reaching the embattled men Specialist Smith detected several Viet Cong talking in an area to his front. He immediately fired upon their position with his machine gun. The insurgents countered with an intense barrage of fire striking Specialist Smith in the chest. Weak from his njury, Specialist Smith protected the assistant machine gunner from the intense hostile fire with his own body. When his strength returned Specialist Smith disregarded this painful wound, took over the machine gun and commenced firing at the Viet Cong until he was mortally wounded. Specialist Four Smith's unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.

Authority: By direction of the President, as established by an Act of Congress, 9 July 1918, and USARV Message 16695, Dated 1 July 1966.

FOR THE COMMANDER:
OFFICIAL: EDWARD B. MITCHENS, JR, Colonel, GS, Chief of Staff

Signed: JOHN F. PADULA, JR, Major, AGC, Assistant Adjutant General