Stars and Stripes

CU CHI - 1st Lt. William H. Dalehite, of the 1st Bn., 35th Inf., "Cacti-Green" was presented the Silver Star by Maj. Gen. John Norton, commander of the 1st Air Cav. Div., at an awards ceremony held at the battalion's forward command post last week. The Army's third highest award for valor was awarded Lt. Dalehite for heroism while serving with the Cacti Green on Operation "Paul Revere IV" in the mountainous regions near the Cambodian border. While operating on a search and destroy mission, Lt. Dalehite immediately organized, maintained and directed an assault on the enemy. In order to properly organize his assault, he exposed himself to the heavy automatic rifle fire from the trees to his front and from the bunkers. Discovering that two of his men were wounded and lying in an exposed position, Lt. Dalehite took immediate action. He personally led the platoon medic to the two wounded men and covered their position in the process. Immediately after the wounded had been secured, Lt. Dalehite renewed his platoon's attack at the center position from which the heaviest enemy fire was coming.