On 26 February 1968, Specialist Four Patrick L. Kelly, RA169xxxxx, of the 119th Assault Helicopter Company, distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions in connection with military operations against a hostile force while serving as a crewchief of a UH-1H helicopter, which was downed by enemy fire. His company was lifting an infantry unit of the 3/12th Infantryfrom a secure fire base northwest of Dak To into an area of known enemy activity. Prior to the combat assault, the Landing zone was suppressed by artillery and by helicopter gunship. SP4 Kelly's aircraft was the secound ship in the lift, and as soon as the artillery prep was cut off, his aifcraft initiated its approach to the area. He began clearing the ship as it came on short final to the area since the landing zone was surrounded by exrtemely tall trees. Approximately 200 meters from the area, he advised the pilot that they were receiving fire and immediately began returning fire from his door gun. Within seconds, the ship shuddered from the impact of numerous rounds, several of them passing within inches of where he sat firing the M-60 machine fun. The aircraft lost power and exsperienced flight control damage and the pilot made an autorotation into the landing zone without further damage to the ship and crew. While the pilot secrued the aircraft and shut down the electrical components, SP/4 Kelly made a check of the troops aboard and reported to the aircraft commander that no one had been wounded, Immediately jumping out of the aircraft, he oppened the pilot's door and then ran to a bomb crater and began laying down a base of fire so that the rest of the personnel could exit the aircraft, Approximately ten minutes after the forced landing, their perimeter came under enemy mortar fire and intense small arms fire from numerous sniper positions.

The decision was then made to move the sixteen individuals to the northeast portion of the landing zone where a woodline would offer some protection and concealment, Without hesitating he took up the rear and covered the relocation with fire from his M-60 . It wasn't long before their new position came under attack, and several were quickly wounded by grenades and sniper fire. When both pilots decided once again to relocate back to the original bomb crater. SP/4 Kelly again took up the rear and covered their advancement up the slope. As they withdrew both pilots were wounded, one seriously, and SP/4 Kelly assisted the aircraft commander in dragging the wounded pilot back to the safety of the LZ. Once inside the bomb crater, he assisted the wounded personel and then took up a possition on the perimetor. With nearly all his ammunition expended, He sprinted back to the downed aircraft and returned with two boxes of machine gun ammunition. He continued to return fire into sniper positions until it was learned that a patrol from the rest of the troop who had been lifted into the alternate landing zone at the top of the hill, had made their way to within fifty meters of their location. The dicision was then made to link up with the patrol and move the other men to the safety of the alternate landing zone. SP/4 Kelly again took up the rear and covered their withdrawal from the hilltop. He was the last one to leave the area, and his accurate and voluminous fire made possible the sucessfull evacuation of the landing zone. For forty five minutes while they made their way through dense undergroth, he carried the heavy machine gun and several hundred rounds of ammunition to cover their retreat. Once reaching the landing zone, he took up a new position on the perimeter and held it until resque aircraft came to remove wounded personal and the crew.

Sp/4 Kelly's sprited and dauntless display of courage was clearly evident during this five hour ordeal. During the encounter he exposed himself numerous times to hostile fire in order to better their chance of reaching safety and rescue. His courage and quick responce to the situation at hand inspired others and resulted in a high moral of the sixteen individuals involved. He never onse hesitated in volunteering to cover the rear with his machine gun, and his accurate fire made opossible the sucessful evacuation. Sp/4 Kelly's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

It was reported that 1lt Johnny D. Shelton and the rest of the crew also received the Silver Star for their actions. They just did what they had to when duty called.