Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1746 (April 16, 1968)
  

*Collazo, Raphael Lorenzo

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Raphael Lorenzo Collazo, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as the point man of the lead squad of the Aero Rifle Platoon of Troop C, 3d Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, in support of the United States 9th Infantry Division Operations in Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam on 17 March 1968. Private Collazo's platoon came under heavy enemy automatic weapons fire as it moved along a canal in search of enemy elements. Private Collazo immediately returned fire to cover his fellow platoon members as they maneuvered into the canal. Having located the source of the enemy fire, he moved around the left flank of his platoon and into another canal which ran directly beside the heavily defended enemy position. Private Collazo then, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, assaulted and single-handedly destroyed the enemy bunker with grenade and rifle fire. As he did, another enemy position on the other side of the canal began firing in the direction of his platoon. Realizing that this weapon too, was a threat to the lives of the men of his platoon, he again began moving toward a heavily defended hostile position. Using a small sampan as cover, he was able to advance to within a few feet of the enemy before being seen. Then, while receiving fire from both sides of the canal, Private Collazo fought in two directions and was able to advance to within inches of his objective before being killed by the murderous crossfire. Through his resolute fearlessness, intense concern for his fellow soldier, and total disregard for his own personal safety, Private Collazo enabled the platoon to complete its mission and effect a successful extraction without further losses. His extraordinary heroism, uncommon valor, and intrepidity at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the Armed Forces of his country.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 57 (October 17, 1968)
  

*Collier, Noah Chandler, Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Noah Chandler Collier, Jr., Private 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 A, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class Collier distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 October 1966 while serving with elements of the 8th Cavalry on a search and destroy mission along the Song An Loa River. After his squad had flushed out several Viet Cong from tunnels along the river bank, Private Collier and two other men escorted the prisoners back to the platoon.. Returning to continue the search, he heard a burst of hostile machine gun fire which severely wounded his squad leader, knocking him under the swift current. Undaunted, Private Collier swam twenty meters through a barrage of bullets to where the soldier had fallen. Disregarding his safety, he then discarded his weapon and fearlessly dove under water in an attempt to save his stricken comrade. Surfacing amid devastating enemy fire splattering the water around him, Private Collier shouted that he could not find the wounded man. As he started to diver under the water again he was fatally wounded by Viet Cong machine gun fire. Demonstrating boundless courage and selfless concern for the welfare of the others, he sacrificed his own life in a valiant effort to save a fellow soldier. Private First Class Collier'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. 1177 (March 17, 1967)
  

Collins, Kenneth G.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kenneth G. Collins, 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, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. First Lieutenant Collins distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 June 1966 while serving as a platoon leader with a company of the 327th Infantry attempting to relieve a besieged unit near Dak To. As his company moved up a densely vegetated hill, it was suddenly pinned down by a murderous barrage of automatic weapons fire from insurgent positions along the ridge. Unmindful of the dangers, Lieutenant Collins unhesitatingly exposed himself to the hail of bullets and led his platoon in an attack up the slope. Forced to the ground by enemy fire from a nearby bunker, he quickly silenced the position with a grenade. Hostile emplacements all around him opened fire and, seconds later, Lieutenant Collins was severely wounded in the left eye by an exploding grenade. Dazed, but undaunted, he rallied his men and mounted a savage assault which swept through three Viet Cong positions, before being halted by intense machine gun fire from both flanks. Shouting orders and encouragement, Lieutenant Collins withdrew the platoon to more defensible terrain. Determined to recover his dead and wounded, he regrouped his men and charged back up the hill. Making repeated trips through the darkness, torrential rain and hostile fire, Lieutenant Collins ensured that all casualties were secured before leading his weary platoon back to the company perimeter in the valley below. Although he was nearly blind, he continued to display boundless courage which inspired his fellow soldiers to repulse numerous hostile attacks throughout the next day. First Lieutenant Collins' 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. 1214 (March 20, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hector E. Colon, Second 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, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Second Lieutenant Colon distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 January 1968 as a platoon leader of an infantry company during a helicopter extraction operation in War Zone C. Lieutenant Colon's platoon had just completed a reconnaissance-in-force mission and was awaiting extraction when it came under heavy rocket, mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire from an estimated four hundred Viet Cong. He quickly positioned his men to repel the advancing enemy. His radio operator was wounded and the radio damaged. Lieutenant Colon secured another set and directed artillery fire and air strikes on the insurgents, sometimes to within five meters of the friendly positions. He personally killed five enemy soldiers who tried to overrun the platoon's perimeter. As the firing subsided, he supervised the evacuation of the casualties, saw that the remainder of his men were extracted, and insured that all weapons and equipment were recovered. His exemplary leadership was directly responsible for routing the numerically superior and determined Viet Cong. Second Lieutenant Colon'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. 3422 (July 17, 1968)
  

Comer, Billy R.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Billy R. Comer, 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 D, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four Comer distinguished himself while serving as a senior medical aidman during combat operations in Cambodia on 22 June 1970. On this date, Specialist Comer's company was engaged by a large, well concealed enemy force firing small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket grenade launchers. Observing a wounded comrade lying in a forward, exposed position, Specialist Comer left his defensive position and ran through the enemy fire to the casualty. While enemy bullets struck all around him, the specialist calmly treated the soldier's wounds and carried him to a covered position within the allied perimeter. Later, during an emergency helicopter re-supply operation, the specialist again moved forward through the intense hostile fire to rescue a soldier seriously injured during the operation. When an evacuation helicopter finally arrived on the scene to rescue the wounded soldiers, Specialist Comer secured one of the casualties to a litter to be hoisted to the hovering helicopter. However, the intense enemy fire directed at his exposed position snapped the cable attached to the litter causing the casualty to fall approximately ten feet into the open area. Without hesitation, the specialist ran to the litter and dragged the casualty to a position of relative safety. Throughout the entire engagement, Specialist Comer exposed himself to the fusillade as he moved from one position to another treating the numerous allied casualties. His determined actions served as a constant inspiration to his companions and contributed immeasurably to the successful defense of the position. Specialist Four Comer'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. 5230 (December 9, 1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Steven W. Comerford, Master 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 Command and Control (Central), FOB 2 (Kontum), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Master Sergeant Comerford distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 January 1968 while serving with an indigenous platoon-size force operating in enemy-held territory. The platoon had been assigned the mission of performing a bomb damage assessment. During its conduct the platoon was ambushed by a superior force and Sergeant Comerford formed his men into a hasty perimeter from which to direct heavy suppressing fire and call in tactical air support. Upon being notified of his machine gunner being killed in the initial action, Sergeant Comerford, with total disregard for his own personal safety, ran through deadly heavy automatic and grenade cross-fire to retrieve the machinegun and the body of the machine gunner. Upon his return to the perimeter Sergeant Comerford positioned the gun at a point not more than 25 meters from the hostile force. Sergeant Comerford, noticing the indigenous troops pulling back, again exposed himself to hostile fire, this time on purpose, calming the indigenous troops and leading them in repelling the enemy, who had gotten to within hand grenade range. Upon the arrival of the Tactical Air Command aircraft, Sergeant Comerford directed them in bombardment of the enemy. He repeatedly called in air strikes to within 25 meters of the friendly position. With the enemy attacking through the air strikes, Sergeant Comerford called the air strikes in as close as 10 meters from his own position, driving the enemy back and leaving many dead in their retreat. With more than half of the friendly platoon casualties, the enemy made another attack, and this time Sergeant Comerford was hit in the head with small arms fire. Seriously wounded, but recovering almost instantly from the shock of being hit, Sergeant Comerford again called in TAC aircraft this time to drop on his own position. Taking the point, he led the troops out of the ambush to an acceptable landing zone for extraction of the wounded. Sergeant Comerford refused to be medically evacuated until all the wounded troops had been lifted out. Master Sergeant Comerford’s heroism and outstanding courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 31 (July 1, 1971)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Felix M. Conde-Falcon, 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 Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division. Staff Sergeant Conde-Falcon distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 April 1969 while serving as platoon leader during a sweep operation in the vicinity of Ap Tan Hoa. Entering a heavily wooded section on the route of advance, the company encountered an extensive enemy bunker complex, later identified as a battalion command post. Following tactical artillery and air strikes on the heavily-secured communist position, the platoon of Sergeant Conde-Falcon was selected to assault and clear the bunker fortifications. Moving out ahead of his platoon, he charged the first bunker, heaving grenades as he went. As the hostile fire increased, he crawled to the blind side of an entrenchment position, jumped to the roof, and tossed a lethal grenade into the bunker aperture. Without hesitating, he proceeded to two additional bunkers, both of which he destroyed in the same manner as the first. Rejoined with his platoon, he advanced about one hundred meters through the trees, only to come under intense hostile fire. Selecting three men to accompany him, he maneuvered toward the enemy's flank position. Carrying a machine gun, he single-handedly assaulted the nearest fortification, killing the enemy inside before running out of ammunition. After returning to the three men with his empty weapon and taking up an M-16 rifle, he concentrated on the next bunker. Within ten meters of his goal, he was shot by an unseen assailant and soon died of his wounds. His great courage, his ability to act appropriately and decisively in accomplishing his mission, his dedication to the welfare of his men mark him as an outstanding leader. Staff Sergeant Conde-Falcon'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. 2027 (June 9, 1969)
  

Conner, DeForest S.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to DeForest S. Conner, Private 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, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 2d Brigade, 101st Air Cavalry Division. Private First Class Conner distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 February 1968 as a rifleman of an airmobile infantry company conducting a search and clear operation in the Hai Lang area. His platoon was advancing toward a village believed to be an enemy stronghold when it was suddenly taken under intense hostile automatic weapons fire from the right flank. Private Conner noticed that the fire seemed to be coming from a large enemy bunker adjacent to the concrete house. He jumped up and ran to a position ten meters from the enemy emplacement. He was wounded in the side during this maneuver, but he refused aid and began to fire into the fortification, allowing his platoon time to deploy for the engagement. He next attempted to throw a grenade into the bunker to destroy it. He was shot in the right arm. Disregarding his safety, he switched the grenade to his left hand and made an accurate throw. The explosion stunned the North Vietnamese Army soldiers in the bunker. Private Conner continued to place suppressive fire on the position and was wounded a third time. Realizing that the bunker would have to be completely demolished to eliminate its fire, he dashed forward, exposed to a hail of bullets, and tossed a grenade inside the emplacement which killed all its occupants. Unassisted, he then crawled to the rear for medical treatment. Private First Class Conner'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. 3645 (July 29, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Eugene Joseph Conner, Major (Artillery), 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 Advisory Team 100, Capital Military District Advisory Detachment, United States Army Advisory Group, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Major Conner distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 while serving as a member of an advisory team during enemy attacks on Saigon. When he was informed that a truck carrying twenty military policemen had been savagely ambushed in an alley in Gia Dinh and all of the soldiers had been killed or wounded, Major Conner immediately moved to the battle site and volunteered to assist in rescuing the trapped victims. The Viet Cong were firmly entrenched in buildings along the alley and had set up a fierce crossfire with rockets and automatic weapons. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Major Conner led a small party through the curtain of fire to reach the trapped men. Ignoring bullets striking all around him, he helped carry the wounded men to safety and then volunteered to lead a sweeping force to clear the hostile positions. Intense enemy fire erupted from a nearby building and stalled the advance of the friendly troops, so Major Conner and one other man fearlessly charged the fortifications alone. As he neared the building, he was instantly killed by a Viet Cong rocket. His gallant and fearless leadership in the face of great odds was responsible for saving several lives and inspired his men to fight furiously in the heat of battle. Major Conner'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. 737 (February 19, 1968)
  

*Connors, David Thomas

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to David Thomas Connors, 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 Company D, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Connors distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 April 1968 at radio operator of an infantry platoon during a reconnaissance-in-force mission. While moving through an enemy-controlled area, one member of the patrol detonated a booby-trapped rocket. Immediately upon hearing the explosion, Specialist Connors ran forward to aid his comrades who had been wounded. After he had moved an injured man to a nearby berm and administered first aid to him, he noticed that another soldier was about to trip a second boob trap. Specialist Connors shouted a warning for the other patrol members to take cover. He then threw himself over his wounded comrade to protect the man from the blast that followed. He was mortally wounded by shrapnel from the explosion. His courageous actions, at the cost of his life, were responsible for saving the lives of several fellow soldiers. Specialist Four Connors' 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. 3035 (June 24, 1968)
  

*Contreros, Albert D., Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Albert D. Contreros, Jr., 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 F, 58th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Sergeant Contreros' distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 November 1968. His 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. 476 (1970)
  

*Conway, James Bennett (MIA)

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Bennett Conway, Captain (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 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. On 12 April 1966, Captain Conway was serving as the Senior Special Forces Advisor to a reconnaissance patrol operating in the Ia Drang Valley in the Republic of Vietnam. As the patrol screened their assigned area, they came under hostile automatic weapons fire which wounded several and halted their progress. After insuring the safety of the wounded, Captain Conway led the friendly forces in an assault which routed the Viet Cong from their positions of concealment. As the friendly forces pursued the hostile contingent, they came upon a well-positioned insurgent force of company size. Despite the hostile force's numerical and positional advantage, Captain Conway led the patrol in successful attacks claiming many insurgent lives. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Conway courageously engaged a well-fortified insurgent machine gun position at extremely close range with grenades and small arms fire. Throughout this action, he continually exposed himself to murderous fire to insure the success of the assault. When the Viet Cong maneuvered to encircle the hard-pressed patrol, Captain Conway planned and led an evasion route in order to regroup the force and continue the attack. As the hostile machine gun fire increased, Captain Conway again exposed himself to heavy Viet Cong fire and directed effective suppressive fire with effective results. During the final stages of the friendly evasive action, Captain Conway was mortally wounded while engaging friendly troops positioned about him. Captain Conway's extraordinary heroism and supreme sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.