Norman R. Piercy

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 [then Sergeant First Class] Norman R. Piercy, United States Army, for exceptionally valorous actions on 20 October 1966 while serving as team leader of a six-man Special Forces reconnaissance team on a combat mission deep in hostile territory. While attempting to land, the infiltration aircraft was brought under intense hostile ground fire. Master Sergeant Piercy directed hart men to fire on the enemy positions while the pilot maneuvered over the area, since the savage barrage prevented landing. He immediately called for gunships to cover the operation and again attempted to land. The ship received another tremendous barrage of fire, but landed under cover of friendly air strikes. The landing zone was swept by withering fire, but he led his non through the enemy lines surrounding the area. By skillful maneuvering, he was able to break contact with the pursuing insurgents and locate the hostile battalion base camp suspected in the area. He immediately directed air strikes on the camp and remained in the area until the position was completely destroyed. Returning to the landing zone, he once again passed through enemy lines surrounding the area. As the helicopter came in, three insurgents appeared in the opening to shoot down the craft. Sergeant Piercy directed a heavy volume of fire on the enemy and succeeded in silencing them. He led his men across the bullet-riddled opening to the waiting aircraft and waited on the ground until all his men were aboard. After taking off, he directed gunships on the hostile positions until they were destroyed.