Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 5896 (October 3, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leslie L. Brucker, Jr., Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Staff Sergeant Brucker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 August 1968 as a medic and platoon leader of a mobile strike force company during an assault against fortified positions held by North Vietnamese Army troops inside the Duc Lap Special Forces camp. He was leading his platoon forward under intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire when he saw his company commander and a fellow medic felled by the fusillade. Disregarding his safety, Sergeant Brucker rushed across open ground through the withering hail of bullets to reach the fallen aidman. while treating the medic he was asked to help carry his wounded company commander out of the line of enemy fire. Sergeant Brucker moved the officer to safety with the help of another American, whom he then instructed to stop the bleeding unit he returned with his aid kit. Ignoring a heavy concentrations of machine gun fire directed at his position, Sergeant Brucker returned to the injured medic. As he collected his aid kit and prepared to drag his comrade to cover, he was mortally wounded. Staff Sergeant Brucker extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the Unites States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4566 (October 2, 1968)
  

Buchanan, Michael D.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Michael D. Buchanan, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Special Operations Augmentation (Command and Control North), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant Buchanan distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 July 1969 while serving as assistant leader of an eight-man reconnaissance team on a mission to capture an enemy prisoner of war. Establishing an ambush near the crest of a hill deep within enemy-held territory, Sergeant Buchanan and his team immediately made contact with elements of a North Vietnamese force. As the firefight progressed, hostile reinforcements approached from every side, hemming in the Americans. Throwing grenades as he ran, Sergeant Buchanan led a break-through assault and repositioned the team at the top of the hill. As the enemy attacked from all sides, Sergeant Buchanan radioed for air support and extraction craft. The team leader meanwhile had advanced beyond the perimeter in an attempt to capture a wounded communist, and when rocket fire knocked him down, Sergeant Buchanan braved the fusillade to drag the injured leader to safety. Then, having called in air strikes on the enemy positions, he charged several North Vietnamese who had crept within meters of his position, killing two and wounding a third. He dashed through the hail of fire to capture the enemy casualty and, shielding him from further wounds, dragged him back within the perimeter. Although wounded in his determined action, he directed gunship fire to cover his comrades' movement as they worked their way down the slope to an improvised landing zone to be extracted. Although wounded himself, Sergeant Buchanan loaded the other members of the team before he was extracted. Sergeant Buchanan's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4282 (December 1, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Karl Lee Bullard, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. First Lieutenant Bullard distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 May 1968 as an infantry platoon leader. A reinforced Viet Cong company launched a violent attack on his company's position near Bong Son. Throughout the attack, Lieutenant Bullard moved from one position to another along the perimeter, directing the fire of his men. When the attack had been repulsed, he called for volunteers to move outside the perimeter with him to recover a friendly squad which was isolated, surrounded and under attack. Lieutenant Bullard was wounded in the leg during the maneuver but refused to stop for medical treatment. When his troops reached the squad, he directed them in laying down a base of fire to cover the withdrawal. After insuring that all the beleaguered element's members had returned to safety, he moved out again to rescue a second isolated squad. Lieutenant Bullard advanced across two hundred meters of enemy controlled terrain before he contacted the surrounded element. When he arrived, he found that all the men in the squad had been wounded and the position was still receiving intense fire. The enemy then mounted a massive ground assault. Several of the Viet Cong fell at Lieutenant Bullard's feet as he directed the fire of his men which succeeded in repulsing the attack. While returning to the company perimeter, he personally killed two more insurgents. When the second squad had been brought to safety, Lieutenant Bullard left the perimeter a third time to recover a radio and machine gun which his men had been forced to leave behind. Lieutenant Bullard was personally responsible for inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and for saving the lives of twelve American soldiers. First Lieutenant Bullard's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3765 (August 2, 1968)
  

Bullard, Thomas E.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas E. Bullard, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 116th Assault Helicopter Company, 269th Combat Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Specialist Four Bullard distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 July 1967 while serving as crew chief of an assault helicopter supporting infantry operations deep in hostile territory. Shortly before noon, Specialist Bullard's crew received an urgent request for emergency evacuation of two seriously wounded soldiers. The ground unit was heavily engaged when the helicopter arrived at the pickup site, and the ship was driven off by intensely savage fire after making a low level pass to locate the casualties. The wounded men were detected in a canal away from the main force, and the aircraft quickly returned and landed nearby. Although the helicopter was continuously raked by intense fire, Specialist Bullard leaped from the craft and dashed alone through a hail of bullets to reach the injured men. Completely disregarding his own safety, Specialist Bullard began carrying one of them to the aircraft. Under a curtain of bullets and flying shrapnel, he quickly placed the wounded man aboard. With bullets striking all around him, he sprinted back to the canal and swam across it to reach the second casualty. Using a lifesaving carry, he brought the victim back through the water and began moving him to the ship. The Viet Cong intensified their fire in an attempt to stop his valiant efforts, but he ignored this extreme hazard and loaded the patient aboard. He exposed himself to the enemy weapons during the takeoff to man a doorgun and fire furiously on the determined attackers. His unselfish actions at great risk to his own life saved the lives of two seriously wounded comrades. Specialist Four Bullard's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6128 (November 28, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kenneth R. Burbank, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company E, 3d Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Sergeant Burbank distinguished himself while serving as a reconnaissance team leader during combat operations in the Suoi Ca Valley on 28 August 1970. During the early morning hours on this date, the allied night defensive position was attacked by a large enemy force. In the ensuing engagement, an enemy hand grenade landed near Sergeant Burbank and another allied soldier. Reacting immediately, the sergeant grabbed the grenade and tossed it back toward the enemy. The grenade, however, detonated several meters in front of the sergeant and wounded him severely in the left arm. Ignoring his injury and fully aware of the impending ground assault by the enemy, Sergeant Burbank called for aerial illumination and directed helicopter gunship fire on the enemy. Moments later, an enemy white phosphorus grenade exploded inside the allied perimeter, showering Sergeant Burbank and several of his comrades with the burning chemical. Undaunted by his own burns, the sergeant ran to the aid of a fellow soldier and scraped the caustic substance from his comrade's body. With his team perilously low on ammunition as the enemy maintained close contact, Sergeant Burbank crawled in front of the allied perimeter and secured vitally needed grenades from the bodies of deceased enemy soldiers. Upon his return, the sergeant distributed the much needed grenades to his team members. Refusing to be evacuated and despite his severe wounds, he remained with his men to direct their defensive efforts until an allied relief force arrived. Sergeant Burbank's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 5305 (December 15, 1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kevin Gail Burke, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Brigade, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Burke distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 November 1968 as a platoon leader on a combat sweep operation near the village of Tan My in Quang Tin Province. During a battle with a large force of North Vietnamese regulars, Lieutenant Burke volunteered to lead fifteen men to rescue several wounded and dead comrades who lay at the base of a hill. Throwing hand grenades and firing his rifle, he came within twenty meters of the hostile positions as he worked his way down the hill. After reaching the casualties, he supervised their evacuation and remained behind to provide covering fire, killing at least five of the communists. When his men had escaped, Lieutenant Burke attempted to rescue a seriously injured man who lay next to an enemy bunker. Braving North Vietnamese machine gun fire, he charged the fortification and while returning fire with his rifle, was mortally wounded by the hostile fusillade. First Lieutenant Burke's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 392 (February 4, 1969)
  

Burnett, William D.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William D. Burnett, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Burnett distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 November 1965 as a driver of an armored personnel carrier. Specialist Burnett demonstrated dauntless courage when a hostile regiment launched a fierce attack on his unit at Ap Bau Bang. At the start of the battle, when the .50 caliber machinegun mounted on his carrier malfunctioned, he swiftly moved from the cover of the driver's seat to the top of the vehicle, quickly cleared the weapon, and used it on approaching insurgents, annihilating fourteen of them. During this action, the carrier took three direct hits from mortar fire, disabling it and wounding the vehicle commander. Assuming command of the situation, Specialist Burnett ordered the crew out of the vehicle, covered their withdrawal, then personally carried the wounded commander, and succeeded in reaching a protective cover moments before a mortar round landed directly on the vehicle. During the withdrawal, he also save the life of another wounded man by using his hand weapon to eliminate two insurgents who were about to kill his beleaguered companion. After administering first aid to the wounded soldier, Specialist Burnett again exposed himself to a heavy volume of gun fire, going from vehicle to vehicle in search of a medical aidman for his critically injured commander. Upon finding an aidman, he led him back and then picked up his commander and carried him across 250 meters of terrain through intense hostile gun fire to the helicopter evacuation pad. Through his bravery, determination, and profound concern for others, he saved the lives of many fellow soldiers and contributed to his unit's success in repulsing a well-armed and numerically overwhelming insurgent force. Specialist Burnett's extraordinary heroism while serving on the battlefield is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 21 (June 1, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Darrell Edward Burns, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Sergeant Burns distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 June 1970 while a member of a rifle company deployed against hostile forces in the Kingdom of Cambodia. On that date Sergeant Burns' squad was deployed in a company-size perimeter when it began to receive small arms and rocket fire from an unknown-size enemy force. After the initial contact subsided, Sergeant Burns detected movement to the front. Disregarding his personal safety, he moved outside the perimeter in order to gain a satisfactory position from which to use fragmentation grenades on the suspected enemy. Sergeant Burns threw a grenade in the direction of the hostiles and the grenade hit a tree and bounced back toward the company perimeter. Realizing that the grenade would explode close to his comrades and the number of friendly casualties that could result, Sergeant Burns unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, lunged in the direction of the grenade as other personnel scrambled for cover. Sergeant Burns sacrificed his life as he threw himself in the direction of the grenade and absorbed the total and lethal fragmentation effects of the grenade as it exploded. Sergeant Burns' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 32 (August 3, 1972)
  

Burrow, George D.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George D. Burrow, Major (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Major Burrow distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 December 1967 while serving as pilot of an armed helicopter supporting an infantry battalion's ground operations near Tra Kieu. Although his craft had been damaged in an earlier mission, he immediately responded to a request to assist the unit. He began screening the terrain to the front of the battalion's advance, and soon detected a large enemy force. Without hesitation, he engaged the enemy with repeated low-level, low-speed rocket and machine gun strafing runs. Despite intense, concentrated fire directed at his ship, he continued to pound North Vietnamese Army positions until it was necessary for him to refuel his ship and re-supply it with ammunition. After re-supplying his helicopter, he returned to the battlefield and quickly detected several hostile troop concentrations in separate locations to the infantry's front. Braving a withering ground fire, he repeatedly attacked the enemy positions, killing numerous North Vietnamese soldiers and clearing the force's path of advance. As the operation continued, Major Burrow discovered an enemy squad deploying for an ambush and attacked it. He placed devastating rocket and machine gun fire on the ambush site and killed all the enemy soldiers with deadly fire. As he was about to depart the battlefield to rearm his aircraft, he saw an automatic weapons emplacement to the front of the infantry. He quickly landed behind the friendly force, secured ammunition for his guns, and returned to engage the hostile position. Again facing ravaging fire, he demolished the enemy emplacement with a heavy barrage. Throughout the day, he repeatedly risked his life to engage the numerically superior North Vietnamese Army forces in combat and accounted for forty-one hostile soldiers killed in action. Major Burrow's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 930 (February 29, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Manuel C. Bustamante, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Bustamante distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 16 March 1969 while serving as platoon leader with a mobile strike force company on a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Ben Het Special Forces Camp. Encountering a hill protected with North Vietnamese fortifications, his unit initiated an assault but was pinned down a short distance in front of the primary bunker line. Sergeant Bustamante, crawling across open terrain in full view of the communists, succeeded in penetrating the enemy perimeter. Scrambling to the nearest bunker while throwing grenades, he destroyed the emplacement and killed its two occupants. Having provided a breach through which his men could follow, he proceeded to clear additional entrenchments along the perimeter. Later, after the eastern section was secured, he and his men were pinned down under fire from another bunker line. Heaving grenades and unleashing volleys from his rifle, he again assaulted the fortification single-handedly, killing the three enemy soldiers inside. Because of his superb leadership, the hill was eventually cleared of the enemy. Sergeant First Class Bustamante's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2139 (June 17, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lonnie R. Butts, Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Specialist Five Butts distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 May 1967 while serving as senior medical aidman during a search and destroy mission near Duc Pho. When the lead element of his unit became pinned down by machine gun fire, Specialist Butts executed a flanking movement on the hostile emplacement and silenced the two Viet Cong who were manning it. He continued forward, moving from one emplacement to another and drove the enemy back with hand grenades and machine gun fire. One insurgent threw a grenade between Specialist Butts and his platoon sergeant. Taking no heed of his own safety, he threw himself between the sergeant and the grenade, catching most of the shrapnel in his legs. Although he was seriously wounded, Specialist Butts went to the assistance of another casualty and treated his wounds. During the remainder of the firefight, he refused medical attention until all of the other wounded men were treated. Specialist Butts was mortally wounded as he move toward a helicopter for evacuation. Specialist Five Butts' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the Unites States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4149 (August 15, 1967)
  

*Byrd, Guy Albert

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Guy Albert Byrd, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company C, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Platoon Sergeant Byrd distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 April 1967 while leading his unit in a search and destroy mission near Song Mao. As soon as Sergeant Byrd's Company was infiltrated by helicopter, it received intense hostile fire and was unable to advance against the strongly fortified North Vietnamese positions. After the landing of a reinforcing platoon and an aerial bombardment of the enemy positions, his company began to advance on line, meeting stubborn resistance from insurgent machine gunners. Sergeant Byrd led his platoon in an aggressive assault against the numerically superior North Vietnamese force, but his men were again pinned down by intense hostile fire. At this point, Sergeant crawled to within 20 meters of a fortified position that was protecting an enemy machine gun. When he was close enough to the emplacement, he pulled the pin on a hand grenade and raised up to throw it. He was immediately hit in the chest by machine gun fire. Sergeant Byrd was unable to throw the grenade, but realized that it explosion could kill several comrades near him. Sacrificing his own life to save his fellow soldiers, he fell on top of the grenade and absorbed the force of the explosion. Platoon Sergeant Byrd's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.