MAJOR FREDERICK J. G. CARISTO (then First Lieutenant), Infantry, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on 24 December 1966, while a member of the Studies and Observations Group, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Major Caristoís mission was to accompany an extremely dangerous and sensitive United States prisoner recovery mission in the Ba Tu area of Cambodia, distinguish the Cambodians from the North Vietnamese and act as an interpreter/translator during any ground negotiations. He was also charged with the security and maximum exploitation of the North Vietnamese Hoi Chanh (military defector) who would accompany the operation. The Hoi Chanh had provided the initial intelligence which prompted the operation, and had revealed two United States prisoners were being held in a isolated hamlet near Ba Tu. The objective area was secured by a reinforced North Vietnamese battalion, surrounded by several minefields, and contained numerous armed/explosive manufacturing shops and caches. The prisoners were being held in a hut bordered on three sides by minefields. Initial planning called for a ìnap of the earthî heliborne assault inside the minefield next to the prisoner hut. At 1200 hours, 24 December 1966, the helicopters made their final approach. With Major Caristo aboard, the lead helicopter began inserting on the wrong side of the minefield. Major Caristo immediately exited the lead helicopter, and simultaneously the supporting gunships began their suppression fires into the minefield and surrounding area. The lead helicopter pilot, realizing his navigational error, left the landing zone and attempted to insert the assault troops on the opposite side of the minefield. After their initial surprise, the North Vietnamese defenders rallied and began to place intensive protective fires throughout the area. Major Caristo, realizing the danger to the prisoners, the possibility of their execution, and the fact that he was the only assault troop on the ground, began to move toward the prisonersí hut. With complete disregard for his own safety and realizing the extreme danger, Major Caristo ran fifty meters through the minefield and fusillade of intense friendly and enemy fire. He broke through the back wall of the designated hut, captured three occupants, and discovered the prisoners had been moved the previous night. The North Vietnamese unit was offering heavy resistance, and both sides, were suffering heavy casualties. The assaulting United States unit had become trapped with a second minefield between them and the North Vietnamese defenders. Major Caristo saw the gravity of the United States troopsí precarious situation, took one of his prisoners, and directed the captive to lead him and the assault elements through the minefield. Again disregarding his own safety by exposing himself to intense small arms and recoilless weapons fire, Major Caristo began leading the way through the minefield. When the prisoner was killed by small arms fire, Major Caristo demonstrated true leadership and great bravery and continued to lead the way through the minefield. Under an increasing volume of fire, and after knocked to the ground from the blast of a bangalore torpedo, he successfully led the assault elements through the minefield. This valorous action undoubtedly saved many American lives and allowed the assault to continue. Major Caristo returned to the hamlet to locate the prisoners and encountered a North Vietnamese soldier firing a 57 mm recoilless rifle into the rear of the assault elements. Major Caristo fired and wounded the gunner. To obtain further information about the minefields in the area, he captured the wounded gunner. Instead, the prisoner led him to an underground arms/explosive shop and attempted to get Major Caristo to enter. Major Caristo wisely had the prisoner enter first. The entrance was booby trapped and the prisoner was killed. The booby trap also wounded a woman and baby who were occupying the complex. Major Caristo, recognizing the possibility of a second booby trap, crawled into the bunker and pulled the woman and child to safety and medical aid. As the assault unit continued their sweep activities, they discovered a number of bunker complexes. Those United States troops attempting to search the bunkers encountered booby traps and small arms fire which caused a number of casualties. Reluctant to suffer further casualties, the United States troops began throwing hand grenades into the bunker prior to entering. Major Caristo, realizing their were many women and children in the bunkers, voluntarily entered several of them and saved many civilian lives by assuring the bunker occupants of their safety. Major Caristoís command of the Vietnamese and Cambodian languages and their dialects also allowed him to discover forty-six North Vietnamese who were attempting to ìblend-inî with the Cambodian civilians. Major Caristo additionally provided translations of numerous documents which led to the uncovering of two large arms caches. Through his heroic and unselfish efforts, Major Caristo saved numerous United States military and noncombatant lives. Although the prisoners were not recovered, Major Caristoís valorous actions were the single outstanding factor of the operation and reflect great credit upon him and the United States Army.