partment of the Army, General Orders No. 80 (December 16, 1968)

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 80 (December 16, 1968)
  

Kerns, Raymond A.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Raymond A. Kerns, Warrant Officer (W-1), 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 Battalion, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Warrant Officer Kerns distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 September 1967 as a pilot on an armed reconnaissance mission in Binh Thuan Province. Mister Kerns was diverted from his mission to assist a platoon heavily engaged by a Viet Cong force firing automatic weapons and small arms. As he made a low-level pass over the battle area, his ship received intense fire from a treeline. Ignoring the vulnerability of his scout helicopter, he launched a devastating attack on one enemy position and suppressed its weapons with deadly accurate fire. As he hovered over the silenced position to assess the damage, his ship received heavy fire from two more emplacements. Disregarding his safety, he remained in position and executed a series of turns that enabled his gunner to engage and kill the attackers. The friendly infantry began an assault on the enemy and was brought under heavy fire. Mister Kerns again attacked the Viet Cong, forcing them to break cover and run in the face of the infantry's pursuit. He inflicted heavy casualties to the insurgents as they tried to escape. Two fleeing enemy soldiers took refuge in some brush and Mister Kerns hovered over their position until they surrendered to the friendly ground forces. His fearless actions in the heat of battle contributed greatly to the decisive defeat inflicted on the Viet Cong. Warrant Officer Kerns' 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. 2016 (May 2, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles S. Kettles, 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 176th Aviation Company (Airmobile) (Light), 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, Americal Division. Major Kettles distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 May 1967 while serving as aircraft commander of a helicopter supporting infantry operations near Duc Pho. An airborne Infantry unit had come under heavy enemy attack and had suffered casualties. Major Kettles immediately volunteered to carry reinforcements to the embattled force and evacuate their wounded from the battle site. Although friendly artillery had pounded the hostile positions, the enemy was well entrenched and fighting fiercely. Major Kettles led a flight of helicopters into the landing zone through a savage barrage. Small arms and automatic weapons fire raked the landing zone and inflicted heavy damage to the ships, but Major Kettles refused to leave the ground until all the craft were loaded to capacity. He then led them out of the battle area. He later returned to the battlefield with more reinforcements and landed in the midst of a rain of mortar and automatic weapons fire which wounded his gunner and ruptured his fuel tank. After leading more wounded aboard, he nursed the crippled craft back to his base. He then secured another ship and led a flight of six helicopters to extract the Infantry unit. All but eight men had been loaded when Major Kettles directed the flight to take off. Completely disregarding his safety, he maneuvered his lone craft through a savage enemy fusillade to where the remainder of the Infantrymen waited. Mortar fire blasted out his windshield, but he remained on the ground until the men were aboard. The enemy concentrated massive firepower on his helicopter and another mortar round badly damaged his tail boom, but he once more skillfully guided his heavily damaged ship to safety. Major Kettles' 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. 1049 (March 9, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dennis Delmar Kiger, 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 B, 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Staff Sergeant Kiger distinguished himself while serving as a volunteer member of an infantry company during an assault of an enemy element entrenched around a large cache. As Sergeant Kiger and his comrades advanced toward the enemy emplacements, they came under an intense barrage of enemy fire. Nevertheless, the company continued to advance until the enemy fire wounded several of the friendly soldiers. At this time, Sergeant Kiger sprang to his feet amid the hail of enemy bullets and assaulted the nearest enemy position. Although wounded as he advanced, he continued his assault until he eliminated the enemy position and four enemy soldiers. He then placed intense rifle fire on the enemy from his exposed position until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Staff Sergeant Kiger'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. 4062 (March 31, 1970)
  

Kimura, Donald K.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald K. Kimura, Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Five Kimura distinguished himself while serving as senior medical advisor during a company search and clear mission on the northeastern slope of Nui Ba Den Mountain. While conducting a sweep through various mountainside caves, Specialist Kimura's unit engaged an estimated battalion size enemy force. During this initial encounter, Specialist Kimura braved enemy sniper fire several times as he maneuvered long distances to administer aid and to direct the wounded to cover. Still under enemy fire, Specialist Kimura returned to the base of the mountain and personally carried several casualties to evacuation helicopters. Later in the afternoon, as the entire company was moving to the base of the mountain, the enemy renewed their attack and caused several more casualties. Specialist Kimura crawled over sixty meters through the enemy fire to aid his wounded comrades. Upon arrival of an extraction helicopter, Specialist Kimura lifted a wounded man over his shoulder and moved toward the landing zone. As he approached the helicopter, enemy automatic weapons fire wounded the injured man and caused both of them to fall to the ground. Signaling the helicopter to leave, Specialist Kimura administered aid to his critically wounded comrade in this position for thirty minutes until he could be evacuated. During the entire action, Specialist Kimura treated twenty-five casualties and was credited with saving two lives. Specialist Five Kimura'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. 3243 (July 14, 1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Larry Douglas King, 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 A, 2d Battalion (Mechanized), 22d Infantry, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant King distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 February 1968 while on an ambush patrol in the Michelin rubber plantation. A Viet Cong force moved into the patrol's ambush late at night. When the enemy were in range, Sergeant King fired two claymore mines into the insurgents, inflicting several casualties. The enemy quickly returned savage fire on the patrol, and Sergeant King braved the fusillade to move among his men and direct their fire. Seeing his machine gunner hit, he moved through a hail of bullets and carried the wounded soldier to safety. When a relief column of armored personnel carriers reached the raging firefight, he leaped atop the lead vehicle and directed its machine gun fire into the Viet Cong positions. The hostile fire mounted in intensity, and the personnel carrier's machine gunner was wounded. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Sergeant King moved to the front of the vehicle and delivered devastating fire on the insurgents with his own machine gun. He was mortally wounded by a Viet Cong rocket while fearlessly engaging a numerically superior enemy force in close combat. Sergeant King'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. 1747 (April 16, 1968)
  

Kingston, Robert C.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert C. Kingston, Lieutenant Colonel (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, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Kingston distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 22 November 1966 to 24 November 1966 while commanding elements of the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Division on a search and destroy mission. When two of his companies made contact with the forward positions of a Viet Cong battalion, Colonel Kingston landed by helicopter and assumed control of ground operations. In the evening of 22 November 1966 when the lead company was pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire, Colonel Kingston, with complete disregard for his safety, charged a wounded Viet Cong and wrestled a weapon from him. While firing the captured weapon, he then led an assault on the hostile positions and forced the insurgents to flee. Throughout the three day period, Colonel Kingston repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire, to encourage his troops and direct air strikes and artillery against the Viet Cong emplacements. His aggressive leadership and personal courage inspired his men to fight with renewed vigor and defeat the numerically superior hostile force. Colonel Kingston’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. 7024 (December 25, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Kizirian, Lieutenant Colonel (Military Intelligence), 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 95, Technical Intelligence Detachment, 525th Military Intelligence Group. Lieutenant Colonel Kizirian distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 and 13 May 1967 while serving as III Corps G-2 advisor on a combat patrol near Bien Hoa. Intelligence reports indicated that a Viet Cong force which had recently attacked the air base was operating in the vicinity, and he led a Vietnamese company-size combat patrol in pursuit of the enemy. Preplanned air strikes hit the hostile fortifications before he reached them, but he ignored the warning which the attack gave to the hostile forces and moved in to assess the bomb damage. He moved to the front of the patrol when it became momentarily disorganized in the dense jungle and quickly rallied his men and moved toward the objective. While crossing a river, he detected a fleeing Viet Cong force and immediately pursued them until he reached an area which he suspected was their camp. Deploying his main force for security, he led three men to the edge of a clearing but was pinned down by small arms and grenade fire. The company could not get to the firefight because of dense jungle and intense firepower which pinned them down, but Colonel Kizirian moved through a hail of bullets to lead them in an attack on the camp which routed the insurgents after they had suffered heavy casualties. He personally killed two insurgents with accurate fire and supervised the destruction of the bunker and tunnel complex used as a regimental base camp. While he led his men back to base, the Viet Cong repeatedly harassed the patrol from ambush. He exposed himself to withering fire time after time to fight furiously and inflict heavy casualties on the determined insurgents. Lieutenant Colonel Kizirian'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. 5965 (November 18, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Joseph Kline, 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, 2d Battalion, 3d Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light). Specialist Four Kline distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 14 May 1968 while serving as an assistant machine gunner during combat operations in enemy territory. He was helping secure the perimeter of his company base camp when a large Viet Cong force attacked. Under the cover of darkness and a driving rain, the enemy was able to penetrate the company's defenses and take control of several bunker positions. During the savage battle that followed, several of the defenders were wounded and stranded in the open. Although wounded himself, Specialist Kline left his position to aid his injured comrades. Moving through withering enemy machine gun and rocket fire, he carried one casualty after another from the battle area to safety. After having removed six men from the line of fire, he began checking bunkers for other wounded personnel. He discovered that two American casualties were trapped in an enemy-held bunker. Disregarding his safety, Specialist Kline courageously assaulted the position, killing two insurgents and silencing their machine gun. As he continued to advance against the fortification, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Specialist Kline'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. 3575 (July 24, 1968)
  

Klinger, Vernon L., Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Vernon L. Klinger, Jr., First Lieutenant, 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, 52d Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. First Lieutenant Klinger distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 May 1969 while leading a four-man Pathfinder team near Dak To. His team was inserted into enemy-held Landing Zone Yankee as advance guard for troops to be inserted later. When the helicopter carrying the team landed it immediately came under volleys of hostile fire wounding the crew chief and killing the pilot and two Vietnamese scouts. As Lieutenant Klinger led his team out of the helicopter into the volleys of automatic weapons fire, he observed four enemy charging the craft and eliminated them with rifle fire. As the damaged helicopter lifted out of the landing zone, Lieutenant Klinger led his greatly outnumbered men to a nearby bomb crater. He and his team killed four more enemy soldiers en route to the crater. Using the short respite this rapid maneuver had gained, Lieutenant Klinger positioned his men to cover all sides of the crater. As the enemy drew the trap tighter, he was wounded in the leg by hand grenade fragments, but he continued to fire his rifle and radioed for helicopter gunship support. Frequently during the next hour, Lieutenant Klinger exposed himself to the enemy fire to direct better the gunship and tactical fighter-bomber strikes against the determined attackers. His guidance was so precise that 750-pound bombs impacted only fifty meters from his position. Twice the team was given up for dead by crews of the aircraft overhead, but Lieutenant Klinger continued to inspire his team to repel the enemy. When reinforcements arrived, he directed his men in providing suppressive fire for the troop helicopters. With the arrival of the reinforcements the enemy withdrew, leaving the bodies of forty-one dead around the crater defended by the team. First Lieutenant Klinger'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. 167 (1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Herbert Wheeler Klug, 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, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. While on a reconnaissance operation, near the village of Suoi Kiet, Specialist Klug's unit was ambushed by an enemy force of unknown size. Four of the six men in the lead element were wounded, and the platoon leader was mortally wounded. The company commander ordered the platoon to withdraw so he could call in support artillery fire on the enemy positions. Realizing that the enemy would immediately overrun the five trapped forward as soon as the platoon withdrew, Specialist Klug and two other comrades volunteered to try and rescue the wounded. Trying to reach the wounded soldiers, one of the three was wounded. Specialist Klug pulled the wounded soldier to safety and continued the search with his remaining buddy for the other wounded men. Finding two of the stranded and wounded soldiers, Specialist Klug and his comrade pulled these men back to the perimeter. While rescuing the two soldiers Specialist Klug was wounded. Despite this wound, Specialist Klug left the perimeter in search of the other wounded soldiers. Upon finding the wounded men Specialist Klug placed effective suppressive fire on the enemy while pulling the wounded men back toward the perimeter. While crossing an exposed rocky area, Specialist Klug was mortally wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. His courage and concern for the welfare of his fellow soldiers earned him the respect of all whom he served. Specialist Four Klug's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, was 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. 31 (July 1, 1971)
  

*Knadle, Robert Edward

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Edward Knadle, Second Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers), 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, 35th Engineer Battalion, United States Army Engineer Command, Vietnam. Second Lieutenant Knadle distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 October 1967 while serving as platoon leader of an engineer unit operating near Phu Li Bridge. While en route to his base camp by jeep, Lieutenant Knadle and his squad were savagely ambushed by a numerically superior Viet Cong force firing automatic weapons and grenades from both sides of the road. He was wounded and the vehicle was disabled by the withering barrage. He quickly directed his men to defensive positions while he remained in the open by the jeep to radio for reinforcements and medical evacuation. Completely disregarding his own safety, he refused to take cover and maintained radio contact with friendly units coming to his assistance. The enemy forces concentrated their fire on his exposed position in an attempt to cut communications, and he was seriously wounded by exploding grenades. Heedless of bullets striking all around him, he refused aid and fought furiously to repel the mounting enemy attack. He was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his men in the face of grave danger. His fearless actions inspired his men to continue fighting until reinforcements arrived and defeated the determined hostile forces. Second Lieutenant Knadle'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. 6340 (December 10, 1967)
  

*Knight, Peter Stanley

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Peter Stanley Knight, 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 A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Captain Knight distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 August 1966 while serving as a company commander during a combat mission near Binh Duong Province. When Captain Knight's company was directed to assault a fortified base camp of an estimated Viet Cong battalion, he immediately deployed two of his platoons, held one in reserve and began to advance through the dense jungle and bamboo thickets toward the insurgent complex. S the assault elements emerged from the jungle, Captain Knight learned that the platoon on his right flank had received intense Viet Cong fire and sustained numerous casualties. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he rushed to the stricken platoon, reorganized his men and called his reserve platoon for assistance. As Captain Knight led his reinforced unit on a renewed assault against the Viet Cong stronghold, the Viet Cong again opened with a suppressive barrage of fire. Although his company was staggered by the intense hostile fire, Captain Knight fearlessly exposed himself and rallied a small group of men in an attack on a Viet Cong emplacement. Inspired by this courageous attack, the remaining elements pushed forward in a final determined drive to rout the Viet Cong. Although he was wounded while exposing himself and encouraging his comrades to continue the assault, Captain Knight, with complete disregard for his safety, continued to lead his company until he was mortally wounded by Viet Cong fire. Through his courage and outstanding leadership, he inspired his badly stricken company to continue the attack until the determined Viet Cong force was completely routed from its base camp. Captain Knight'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.