Samuel Morales, Jr.

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 Samuel Morales Jr. for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Four Morales distinguished himself while serving as a Rifleman with Troop D, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division. On 9 May 1969, Specialist Morales’ platoon was inserted into a landing zone west of Plei Mrong. Immediately upon disembarking, the platoon came under  heavy automatic weapons and B-40 rocket fire from an entrenched enemy company located in the woodline approximately 100 meters away. The platoon had already taken casualties when Specialist Morales charged from the second helicopter only to find two squad leaders already hit, one dead and one wounded and the rest of the element pinned down. Exposing himself to a hail of automatic weapons and rifle fire, Specialist Morales ran across the landing zone and picked up a machine gun from the mortally wounded machine gunner. He then proceeded to fire into the enemy position where the greatest volume of fire was coming from. Seeing that the platoon medic was exposed to the enemy fire as he ran across the landing zone, Specialist Morales, now totally disregarding his own safety, boldly stood up in order to get a better field of fire, and put continuous and intensive machine gun fire upon the entrenched enemy. Still standing, he began to advance toward the enemy while firing from his hips; this allowed his comrades to gain fire superiority. Specialist Four Morales’ exceptional courage, aggressiveness and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unity and the United States Army.