The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
The SILVER STAR MEDAL to
Lieutenant William E. Terry, United States Navy
For service as set forth in the following

                         CITATION 

FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION AS AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OF A HELICOPTER ATTACHED TO AND SERVING WITH HELICOPTER ANTI-SUBMARINE SQUADRON FOUR ON BOARD USS YORKTOWN DURING A RESCUE MISSION ON 14 MARCH 1966. WHEN HE LEARNED THAT THE PILOT AND CREWMAN OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT HAD PARACHUTED OVER ENEMY TERRITORY AND LANDED IN COASTAL WATERS SUBJECT TO ENEMY FIRE, HE UNHESITATINGLY FLEW TOWARD THE AREA TO UNDERTAKE THE RESCUE OF THE DOWNED AIRMEN. AS HE APPROACHED THE AREA, ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTING TO AFFECT THE RESCUE WAS DESTROYED BY DEADLY FIRE FROM THE ENEMY COAST, AN OFF-SHORE ISLAND AND ENEMY BOATS. DESPITE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OTHER PILOTS ON THE SCENE THAT HE NOT ATTEMPT TO RESCUE, AND IN THE FACE OF THIS FIRE, HE ENTERED THE AREA OPPOSING THE ENEMY FIRE WITH HIS OWN MACHINE GUNS, AND SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED SURVIVORS OF THE TWO DOWNED AIRCRAFT. HIS ACTIONS WERE MARKED BY CONSPICUOUS HEROISM AND COURAGE UNDER HEAVY AND ACCURATE ENEMY MORTAR AND AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE. BY HIS DARING ACTIONS AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY IN THE FACE OF PERSONAL RISK, LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) WILLIAM EDWIN TERRY UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

                                                 For the President

                                                 Paul R. Ignatius

                                                Secretary of the Navy

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