Calvin G. Schnese

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Calvin G. Schnese, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for exceptionally valorous actions on 2 May 1967 as assistant patrol leader of a six-man Special Forces long range reconnaissance team operating in enemy territory. His team had halted near the construction site of a large enemy camp when it was discovered and surrounded by a large Viet Cong force. While the patrol leader called for air support, Sergeant Schnese crawled to within a few meters of the encircling enemy lines, located a weak point and returned to the team’s location. The tactical aircraft arrived overhead and began firing rockets at Viet Cong positions. Braving intense small arms fire, Sergeant Schnese led his fellow soldiers through the lightly defended point he had discovered to relative safety outside the enemy lines while the team leader remained behind to adjust the airstrikes. Sergeant Schnese then courageously exposed himself to the insurgents and placed fierce fire on them to draw their attention and fire away from his trapped comrade, enabling him to escape.
RV, General Orders No: 1993 – (2 May 1968)