- SURNAME
Moore
- FORENAME
Billy K.
- UNIT
6 SF Group (Company C)
- RANK
Master Sergeant
- 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 Master Sergeant Billy K. Moore, 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. Immediately after the helicopter in which he was riding crash-landed inside the prison compound, Sergeant Moore delivered devastating automatic weapons fire on the southwest guard tower, thus eliminating its threat. Then, with great risk to his life, he moved to the south wall and continued to place fire on the enemy target until it was completely cleared. Sergeant Moore then moved unprotected with a demolition charge to a pre-selected position to blow an escape hole in the prison wall for evacuation. Upon completion of this task, he volunteered to remain behind to activate the prepared demolitions charge in the crash-landed helicopter in order to destroy it. His fearless personal conduct, his thorough execution of his assigned tasks, and his calm and efficient manner of performance were exceptional during the critical assault period. Sergeant Moore's conscious disregard for his personal safety, 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/24568
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