- SURNAME
Martin
- FORENAME
Billy R.
- UNIT
6 SF Group (Company A)
- RANK
Sergeant First Class
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
North Vietnam 1970 (Son Tay)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Bill R. Martin, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 November 1970 as a member of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam. This valiant effort was motivated by deep compassion for his imprisoned fellow men-at-arms, and by a strong sense of military duty and national pride. Sergeant Martin, an M-60 machine gunner and forward air guide, came under enemy automatic weapons fire as his element approached a building complex. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he bravely exposed himself to the enemy fire and quickly neutralized the enemy position with a heavy volume of machinegun fire. As his element moved into the complex, Sergeant Martin once again came under automatic weapons and small arms fire. Without hesitating, he assaulted the enemy position and neutralized this threat to his element. He then delivered a withering volume of fire. Sergeant Martin's sense of duty and extraordinary heroism enabled his element to successfully complete its assigned mission. Sergeant Martin's daring skill, extraordinary heroism against an armed hostile force, and extreme devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24515
Last edited by a moderator:
