Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6143 (October 25, 1966)
  

*Garcia, Joseph Andrew (MIA)

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph Andrew Garcia, 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 A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Garcia distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as a member of an infantry unit conducting search and destroy operations near Tan Son Nhut Air Base. His platoon, the lead element of the company, was suddenly subjected to intense machine gun, automatic weapons and small arms fire from an insurgent force of unknown size. Serving as point man, Specialist Garcia remained completely exposed to the ravaging enemy fusillade to provide covering fire for his comrades as they deployed in defensive positions. During the ensuing firefight, he located a Viet Cong machine gun emplacement that had inflicted several casualties to his unit. With complete disregard for his safety, Specialist Garcia armed himself with a light anti-tank weapon and crawled across an open field toward the hostile position. He was severely wounded by a burst of enemy automatic weapons fire as he maneuvered forward. Heedless of the hail of bullets continually striking around him, he fearlessly rose to one knee and fired his weapon from point-blank range at the machine gun, destroying it and killing its crew. As he fired his weapon, Specialist Garcia was mortally wounded by an enemy sniper's bullet. Specialist Four Garcia'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. 2410 (May 21, 1968)
  

Garrett, Chester

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Chester Garrett, 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 Detachment A-341, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Captain Garrett distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 February 1967 while serving as Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese strike force on a search and destroy mission near the Cambodian border. Early in the morning, his unit was savagely attacked and pinned down by a North Vietnamese battalion firing machine guns, mortars and small arms. Completely disregarding his own safety, Captain Garrett dashed to the point of heaviest fighting to assess the situation and coordinate the defenses. He saw an enemy position manned by four hostile soldiers placing heavy fire on his men and charged through a hail of bullets, killing the insurgents with accurate hand grenade and rifle fire. He quickly established a hasty perimeter and moved back to bring reinforcements to the forward positions. His Vietnamese counterpart was killed by the intense barrage and the men began to withdraw, but he stood up in the midst of the raging firefight and rallied his men to fight furiously against the determined attackers. Seeing two men fighting against a numerically superior element, he dashed to their side and helped kill ten enemy soldiers within ten meters of his position. Supporting aircraft were unable to pinpoint his location in the dense jungle, so he moved into the open to direct them with a hand-held smoke grenade. Under cover of artillery and air strikes, he led a withdrawal to a landing zone and personally carried a wounded comrade more than six hundred meters on his back. Again, disregarding the savage fire, he led a carrying party back to the battle site and recovered all friendly casualties before leaving the area. Captain Garrett'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. 5961 (November 18, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Andres Garza, 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 A, 1st Battalion, 52d Infantry, Americal Division. Sergeant First Class Garza distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 and 18 April 1969 in the mountainous area northwest of Landing Zone Baldy in Quang Ngai Province. As his company traversed an open valley on 17 April, the enemy launched a devastating attack upon both flanks and the rear of the unit. Sergeant Garza quickly moved to an exposed position and began to lay down suppressive fire on the enemy enabling his company to organize an assault which overran the hostile force. Although wounded in the conflict, he refused medical attention until his comrades were treated. On the following day his unit was again ambushed as they moved through dense vegetation. When the point and second man were wounded in the first volley, Sergeant Garza carried each man through the fusillade to safety. In three additional maneuvers he retrieved weapons and ammunition. During the firefight, he was seriously wounded by shrapnel from impacting mortar rounds, but he refused to be evacuated until the mission was completed. Sergeant First Class Garza'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. 2494 (July 11, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Barry D. Gasdek, 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 Company D, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 11th Brigade, Americal Division. Captain Gasdek distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 September 1968 while commanding an infantry company during a combat sweep near Duong Da. When his unit came under intense enemy fire, Captain Gasdek exposed himself to the hail of bullets to encourage his men, fire his weapon and hurl hand grenades at the aggressors. Informed there was an armored cavalry, troop nearby that could assist him, he took two men and went to direct the armored personal carries to the battle site. As he returned with the carriers, they came under accurate small arms and mortar fire which wounded him in the leg. Despite his painful injury, he continued on to his men and organized the evacuation of the wounded to the tracks. Carrying the most seriously injured man on his back, he crawled more than a hundred meters through a murderous barrage to the vehicles and placed him in the medic track. He then returned to his unit to make sure all casualties were evacuated and gather weapons and radios to keep the enemy from capturing them. When one of his radio operators was killed and the other wounded, Captain Gasdek administered first aid to the injured man and carried the radio equipment himself. He next directed helicopter fire ten to twenty-five meters from his position, enabling his men to withdraw and establish a night location. The following morning he led an attack on the enemy, forcing the aggressors from the area. During the engagement he received a shrapnel wound in the back, but again refused evacuation to remain with his troops. Captain Gasdek's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with 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. 5903 (December 30, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gordon W. Gaskin, 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four Gaskin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 January 1968 while serving as a medical aidman at Landing Zone Leslie in the Que Son Valley. His unit's perimeter was hit by a North Vietnamese barrage of rocket, mortar, recoilless rifle, automatic and semiautomatic weapon fire, followed by a vicious ground assault which resulted in fierce hand-to-hand combat in many areas. Specialist Gaskin exposed himself to the heavy volume of hostile fire as he moved to the perimeter in search of wounded soldiers. Although he was frequently fired on by the enemy, he fearlessly rescued his injured comrades and brought them to his aid station. During the seven-hour battle Specialist Gaskin treated over fifty casualties, sterilizing pieces of clothing to construct makeshift bandages after he had exhausted all his medical supplies. By repeatedly quitting his protected position to help his fellow soldiers, he saved many lives. Specialist Four Gaskin'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. 5179 (November 6, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert A. George, First Lieutenant (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop G, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. First Lieutenant George distinguished himself while serving as first platoon leader during a reconnaissance-in-force mission near the Ho Bo Woods in Binh Doung Province. Amid intense enemy fire during contact with a hostile force, Lieutenant George went to the assistance of a disabled armored cavalry assault vehicle. Mounting the burning vehicle, he began to place machine gun fire on the enemy positions in order to cover the crew's withdrawal. While he was returning fire, a rocket propelled grenade struck the vehicle and exploded, knocking him into the crew compartment with a painful fragmentation wound in his right eye. Although without vision in one eye and in great pain, Lieutenant George returned to his vehicle, braving small arms fire, and withdrew his elements so that artillery fire could be placed on the enemy. He refused medical evacuation and accepted only first aid treatment and remained in the battle. When his troops commander was seriously wounded, Lieutenant George assumed command and led a successful assault on the hostile positions. As a result of his actions, G Troop defeated the enemy in battle and friendly casualties were kept to a minimum. First Lieutenant George'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. 2264-411 (June 29, 1971)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Bromley Howard German, First Lieutenant (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 Battery A, 3d Battalion, 82d Artillery, 196th Infantry Brigade (Light) (Separate), Americal Division. First Lieutenant German distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 and 6 January 1968 as artillery forward observer with an infantry company on combat operations in Quang Tin Province. The company was savagely attacked in the early evening of 5 January by a North Vietnamese Army force and suffered numerous casualties. Lieutenant German quickly took command of a platoon that had become separated from the main body and had lost its leader, organized a tight defensive perimeter, and directed ravaging artillery strikes on the attackers. Despite a wound received in the initial attack, he continually exposed himself to enemy weapons and coordinated defensive fires which repelled repeated assaults by the determined North Vietnamese. He realized the necessity of rejoining the company's main body and he brought savage artillery fire to within thirty meters of his platoon's position to cover its movement to the company perimeter. The company commander had been seriously wounded and evacuated, so Lieutenant German assumed command. Shortly before midnight, he moved the unit to a more tenable position in a nearby trenchline and established a defensive perimeter. Despite bullets striking all around him, he moved among his troops to encourage them and direct their fire. He fearlessly exposed himself to the withering enemy fusillade time after time throughout the morning hours and continued to repulse the insurgents' wave assault with skillfully directed artillery strikes. He was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his men in the face of numerically superior enemy force. His courageous leadership prevented the attackers from overrunning the company and inspired his men to fight on until reinforcements arrived. First Lieutenant German's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest tradition 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. 1249 (March 22, 1968)
  

Home Town: Waterbury, Connecticut

Getz, Charles E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles E. Getz, 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 52d Infantry, 198th Infantry Brigade, 23d Infantry Division. Major Getz distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 October 1970 while commanding a combat air assault operation near Thach An Dong, Son Tinh. Prior to troop insertion, Major Getz was reconnoitering the area in his control helicopter when an enemy force was observed near a small hamlet. While flying at low altitude in order to mark the first landing zone for the delivery of his troops, his helicopter began receiving enemy ground fire. Ignoring the heavy volume of fire concentrated at his aircraft, Major Getz directed his pilot to the second landing zone, marking it with smoke grenades. Moments later, his helicopter landed so that he could personally direct the ground movements of his two platoons against the opposing force. To coordinate the advance of both platoons, Major Getz raced two-hundred meters across an open rice paddy although enemy fire was directed almost entirely at him. Advancing to an enemy emplacement through a barrage of fire, Major Getz eliminated the position and its three occupants. As he continued forward, he discovered an enemy tunnel. He unhesitatingly entered the tunnel and captured a North Vietnamese soldier and his weapons. Continuously exposed to hostile fire, he effectively maneuvered his two platoons in a successful assault against the well-fortified enemy emplacements. Throughout the entire engagement, Major Getz's aggressive and determined efforts boosted the morale of his troops, inspired them to maintain the offensive, and defeat the hostile enemy force. Major Getz'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. 1567 (May 8, 1971)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Samuel T. Gibson, 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 1st Infantry Division Advisory Detachment, I Corps Advisory Group, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Gibson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 January 1968 as a psychological operations/civic actions advisor during an attack on the Phu Loc District Headquarters. Enemy forces launched a devastating night mortar barrage on the compound, and sappers entered it through a break in the defensive perimeter wire. As Sergeant Gibson secured his weapon and equipment to move a bunker, the door was blown off his quarters and he was thrown across the room by the blast. Although shaken, he picked himself up, crossed the open compound and manned a machine gun position atop the command bunker to repel the furious hostile attack. An exploding satchel charge threw him to the ground and wounded him. Refusing aid, he climbed back to his position through a curtain of fire and hurled hand grenades at the assaulting insurgents. When the Viet Cong moved to defilade positions, he braved the barrage of small arms fire and exploding grenades to reach a place from which he could direct more effective fire on them. The enemy launched another fierce ground attack, and he engaged a sapper in deadly hand-to-hand fighting until an insurgent's satchel charge detonated nearby, killing the Viet Cong soldier and rendering Sergeant Gibson unconscious. After regaining his senses, he crawled to a nearby building and secured a rifle. Firing it as he maneuvered, he moved throughout the compound to locate his fellow advisors. After aiding a wounded man from the rubble of a demolished bunker, he noticed an ammunition truck parked beside a burning building. Sprinting to the vehicle, he started it rolling, jumped inside and drove it to safety. His aggressive and fearless actions throughout the fierce three hour battle were instrumental in repelling the determined Viet Cong forces. Sergeant First Class Gibson'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. 2651 (June 1, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Caroll Gilbert, Sergeant Major, 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 Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Major Gilbert distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March 1969 while flying in a command and control helicopter with his brigade commander near Kontum. An ambulance helicopter evacuated a load of casualties from an infantry company in heavy contact with a battalion- size North Vietnamese Army force, but it was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it was unable to return for the remaining wounded. Realizing that the ground unit would be unable to maneuver until the injured men were extracted, Sergeant Major Gilbert urged the brigade commander to use his aircraft to complete the evacuation. He fired at the communists from tree-top level and directed the fire of the door gunners on two flights to the landing zone. On both attempts, however, the infantrymen were pinned down by hostile fire and unable to reach the ship. Although the helicopter had received a number of hits in the fuselage, Sergeant Major Gilbert directed the pilot to fly over the North Vietnamese nearest the pickup site and exposed himself to a hail of bullets by leaning out and firing into the enemy positions. During an approach to the landing zone, automatic weapons fire wounded the pilot and door gunner, forcing the co-pilot to wrench the ship into a series of evasive actions. Sergeant Major Gilbert detached his seat harness and braced himself in the doorway to shield the brigade commander and bring the most effective fire against the North Vietnamese. He succeeded in silencing one emplacement and was engaging another as the helicopter was nearing safety when he was struck and killed by the hostile fusillade. Command Sergeant Major Gilbert'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. 1723 (May 14, 1969)
  

*Gipson, Robert Paul

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Paul Gipson, 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 B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Specialist Four Gipson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 16 March 1966 while serving as a member in a company conducting a search and destroy operation in the Republic of Vietnam. During the morning hours, Specialist Four Gipson's company was attacked by a large Viet Cong force employing numerous automatic weapons, small arms, mortars and recoilless rifles. Because of the intensity of the battle, available ammunition supplies were rapidly expended. At this time, Specialist Four Gipson unhesitatingly carried ammunition to the front line platoons. Moving up and down the heavily engaged front lines, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile machine gun fire while resupplying the platoons with vitally needed ammunition. He then made a second trip through the bullet swept area to obtain additional ammunition, and again braved the intense hostile fire as he returned to the front lines with it. During the course of action, Specialist Four Gipson maneuvered to the battalion landing zone which was under constant .30 and .50 caliber machine gun fire. With complete disregard for his safety, he dauntlessly moved into the open while securing ammunition for the front lines, and then took up a firing position there. In the closing hour of the five-hour battle, he was mortally wounded by a burst of Viet Cong machine gun fire. Specialist Four Gipson'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. 5951 (October 6, 1966)
  

Glemser, James P.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James P. Glemser, 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 C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Specialist Four Glemser distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 May 1969 while serving as a radio telephone operator during a search and clear operation near the city of Tan Ky, Quang Tin Province. While maneuvering against well-fortified North Vietnamese bunker complexes, his patrol came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire. As his platoon advanced, an enemy soldier hurled a grenade from his spider hole towards Specialist Glemser and his platoon sergeant, seriously wounding the sergeant. Amid intense enemy fire, Specialist Glemser crawled towards the casualty. After reaching the wounded man, he applied a dressing to his wounds and dragged him to a safer position. Then, Specialist Glemser assaulted the enemy soldier's spider hole, successfully eliminating the foe. Returning to the wounded sergeant, Specialist Glemser carried him 100 meters across a fire-swept rice paddy to the safety of his team's perimeter. Specialist Four Glemser'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.