Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1589 (June 4, 1970)
  

Home Town: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Miller, Richard L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard L. Miller, 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 A-333, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Miller distinguished himself while serving as an advisor to a Vietnamese strike force during a reconnaissance-in-force operation deep in enemy territory. During the period 5 June through 10 June 1969, Sergeant Miller’s force was in almost constant contact with Vietcong and regular North Vietnamese Army units as it swept through the villages and surrounding areas of Hung Phat and Soc Trauh. In every contact and pitched battle, Sergeant Miller was always at the forefront of the heaviest fighting, exhorting his strike force troopers to hold their ground amid fierce enemy onrushes and leading them in daring assaults against superior numbers of the enemy. Sergeant Miller boldly exposed himself again and again to intense enemy fire as he rushed to forward positions to direct his force’s return fire and to coordinate tactical and artillery air strikes against the communists. Even a painful shrapnel wound to the head late in the operation could not deter Sergeant Miller from being among his men and commanding their every maneuver against the adversary. Day and night for six days, he drove himself with little sleep or food as he pressed his small force onward in relentless quest for victory over the enemy. The success of this extended operation, pitting a small but determined strike force against overwhelming numbers of the enemy, was a tribute to **** and undaunted fighting spirit of Sergeant Miller. Sergeant first class miller’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and his unit and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1083 (May 6, 1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robin K. Miller, 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 114th Assault Helicopter Company, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 164th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Captain Miller distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 December 1967 as leader of an armed helicopter platoon supporting Vietnamese infantrymen near Vi Thanh. The Vietnamese units were savagely attacked and pinned down by devastating fire as they advanced toward suspected Viet Cong positions in a treeline. Called to aid the beleaguered soldiers, Captain Miller flew to the battle site and launched a deadly rocket and grenade attack on the enemy bunkers and weapons emplacements. His ship was heavily damaged by withering ground fire, but he continued his relentless assaults until he had expended his ammunition and two of his crew members had been wounded. After securing another aircraft, he flew back to the scene and made a series of low passes into a fierce enemy barrage to lay a smoke screen for incoming troop transport helicopters. Bullets tore into his ship as he orbited the firefight, courageously drawing fire to himself while fresh troops were inserted into the battle area. He was forced to obtain another aircraft, but he quickly returned to resume his support of the friendly forces. Evacuation helicopters arrived to pick up casualties, and Captain Miller made repeated passes over enemy positions to draw fire away from the rescue operation. He then renewed his assault role, raining deadly ordnance on the insurgents and destroying many of their positions. The Vietnamese ground commander decided to extract one of his units that had been in heavy contact since the early morning. In the total darkness of night, the evacuation helicopters could not find the landing zone they were to use. Captain Miller located the site which was close to the Viet Cong positions. Landing, he fearlessly turned on all his ship's lights and guided the evacuation craft to the pickup point. His fearless actions contributed greatly to inflicting a decisive defeat on the determined enemy and saved many lives in the heat of battle. Captain Miller'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. 2271 (May 15, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Tommy L. Miller, 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, 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Miller distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 and 2 January 1968 while helping defend a fire support base in Tay Ninh Province. Assigned to a listening post outside the compound's perimeter, Sergeant Miller was the first to detect the enemy's presence in the area and quickly alerted the camp's defenses. A combined Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army force launched a devastating rocket, mortar and automatic weapons attack on the area around the listening post, and he and two comrades were wounded in the initial volley. Sergeant Miller quickly treated his fellow soldiers. Remaining at his post without aid for himself, and without assistance from his seriously wounded companions, he continued to report enemy movements. He fearlessly performed his mission despite increasing numbers of enemy soldiers moving closer to his position. Calmly relaying information to the base camp as the insurgents passed by, he was instrumental in accurately directing artillery strikes on the attackers which repelled their determined assault on the compound. Sergeant Miller'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. 2688 (June 4, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter G. Millsap, 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, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Specialist Four Millsap distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 4 June 1971 while serving at an isolated radio relay site surrounded by the enemy. When his outpost received enemy small arms, automatic weapons, rocket and mortar fire, from a superior-sized enemy force, Specialist Millsap repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he moved about the camp's perimeter firing his rifle and throwing hand grenades at the assaulting enemy. When his supply of grenades was exhausted, he moved to a machinegun and directed accurate, suppressive fire upon the enemy. Disregarding rocket and mortar rounds impacting about him, Specialist Milsap continued to man his machinegun and inflict severe losses upon the enemy until an enemy rocket detonated beside his emplacement and threw him from his position. Receiving emergency medical treatment, Specialist Millsap returned to the machinegun despite fire directed at him as he moved to his former position. Once again, he directed intense fire at the enemy. His emplacement sustained yet another rocket hit which this time destroyed his machinegun and wounded him for the second time. Disregarding his wounds, Specialist Millsap fired his rifle and threw hand grenades at the enemy until advised to withdraw from the perimeter and await extraction from the outpost. Assisting a wounded officer, he was wounded for a third time by an incoming rocket round. He shielded the officer with his body and absorbed the blast that would have wounded the officer. Specialist Millsap continued to assist his wounded fellow soldiers until all men on the outpost could be evacuated. His calmness, determination and extraordinary concern for this companions served as an inspiration to those that were with him. His heroic actions resulted in significant losses among the enemy and prevented the death or possible capture of those on the outpost. Specialist Millsap'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. 1149 (May 23, 1972)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John D. Minatra, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Airborne Division Advisory Detachment (Airborne), Advisory Team 162, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Minatra distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 17 November to 19 November 1967 as advisor to a Vietnamese airborne infantry battalion on combat operations near Dak To. During this period the battalion was involved in an attack on Hill 1416. In the initial assault on the objective Sergeant Minatra's Vietnamese counterpart was wounded and disabled. He immediately rallied the remainder of the unit and directed their movement and fire until the company executive officer assumed command. When the attack lost its momentum, Sergeant Minatra unhesitatingly moved forward under intense fire to an exposed position and directed air and artillery strikes against the enemy. On 19 November, while being briefed at the battalion command post, he was subjected to an intense enemy mortar barrage. Although wounded in the initial minutes of the attack, he refused medical evacuation and assisted the other casualties to safety. As the fusillade subsided, the enemy assaulted the battalion's flank. Without regard for his safety Sergeant Minatra moved to the point of heaviest contact. He quickly and accurately directed close air support against the attackers. At one point, the bombs and napalm fell only thirty meters from his own position. As the enemy assault was beaten back the battalion counterattacked. Murderous enemy rocket, mortar and small arms fire threatened to halt the advance just short of the hill's crest. Refusing to let the attack stall, Sergeant Minatra charged the hostile positions alone, killed a number of the enemy, and caused others to flee. The weary paratroopers, inspired by his actions, charged up the hill and completely overran the insurgents. Sergeant First Class Minatra's extraordinary heroism and devotions 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. 1514 (April 4, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ernest G. Mines, First 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 C, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. First Sergeant Mines distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 October 1969 while participating in a search and clear mission in the mountainous terrain northeast of An Khe. While exploring a cavern located near an enemy camp site, he discovered a cache containing rifles, baskets of rice, and salt. First Sergeant Mines summoned other team members to aid him in removing the supplies. As his companions gathered around and he began to remove the items, he activated a concealed booby trap which caused an armed grenade to fall to the cavern floor. Reacting quickly, First Sergeant Mines warned his comrades and then threw himself directly on the grenade. After an agonizing period during which the grenade failed to explode, he carefully moved off the grenade and ran from the cave. A subsequent examination of the grenade revealed that the pin had been pulled, but the safety release had not been removed when the booby trap had been emplaced. First Sergeant Mine'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. 3732 (August 13, 1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas Francis Minogue, Private First Class, 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 on 21 March 1967, while serving as Platoon Medic for the Third Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. His unit was conducting a search and destroy operation in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, and engaged a numerically superior enemy force. When the company commander was seriously wounded, Private Minogue ran through thirty meters of intense enemy fire to shield his commander with his body and treat his wounds. As the enemy charged the position, he ignored the intrinsic peril and threw himself across his leader and consequently received multiple gunshot wounds. His selfless actions also provided protection for the radiotelephone operator, who used his rifle and hand grenades to repulse the enemy and communicated with the platoons and battalion headquarters. Private Minogue continued to shield his commander as he and the radiotelephone operator moved him to a safer position. When the enemy assaulted their new position, he again covered the commander's body with his own and protected the radiotelephone operator. The company commander occasionally regained consciousness long enough to encourage his men and adjust air and artillery support. Private Minogue continued to treat him until overcome by his own mortal wounds. His extraordinary heroism not only saved the lives of the radio operator and company commander, but also made it possible for them to continue to operate the command post. The tactical and valorous significance of his heroism is highlighted by the fact that, without the operation of the command post, the company would not have survived until a relief force arrived to force the enemy to break contact. Private Minogue's supreme effort 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 Armed Forces of his country.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 7 (February 14, 1968)
  

*Mitchell, Thomas Peter

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas Peter Mitchell, 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 Advisory Team 60, 9th Infantry Division Advisory Detachment, IV Corps Advisory Group. Captain Mitchell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 March 1967 while serving a senior advisor to a Vietnamese battalion during a mission to aid a beleaguered unit in Vinh Long Province. Captain Mitchell flew into the besieged landing zone with the first half of a heliborne battalion. Although the area had been recently swept by air strikes to destroy some of the enemy firepower, the helicopters were raked by devastating fire as they touched down. The man sitting next to Captain Mitchell was killed, and he himself was hit in the side of the face by shrapnel. Heedless of his wound, he left the aircraft and urged the Vietnamese Commander to lead his troops toward the woodline containing the Viet Cong fortifications. At this point, another helicopter flew in to pick up a previously downed crew and was hit and crashed. Faced with the decision to take cover behind a dike or enter the hail of fire to rescue the helicopter crew, Captain Mitchell selflessly ignored his own safety and led a small group toward the burning aircraft. With bullets striking all around him, he waded 25 meters through knee-deep mud to where an injured crew member was crawling to safety. Braving the heat of the flames and gas from the burning wreckage, he grabbed him and pulled him to a nearby dike. Captain Mitchell placed himself between the man and the Viet Cong weapons and had dragged him 15 meters when he was struck and killed by an outburst of fire. His gallant sacrifice enabled other men to complete the rescue of the injured crew member. Captain Mitchell'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. 1732 (April 15, 1967)
  

*Moehring, Dean Ward

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dean Ward Moehring, 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, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Sergeant Moehring distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 March 1969 as leader of a platoon on a combat patrol approximately two kilometers southwest of Fire Support Base Liz near Duc Pho. While his element was crossing a cultivated field, Sergeant Moehring observed movement in a nearby hedgerow and called out the word "stop" in Vietnamese. Suddenly a North Vietnamese Army company unleashed intense machine gun, rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire on the platoon from three sides, killing three men instantly and wounding eleven others. Seeing a casualty who was unable to craw to cover because of the seriousness of his wounds, Sergeant Moehring dashed from his secure position onto the open field to the side of his stricken comrade. Despite the fierce enemy fusillade, he began to work feverishly to stop the man's bleeding, while glancing to the rear and shouting commands to his troops to direct their return fire. As he was calling to his radio-telephone operator to obtain reinforcements and an ambulance helicopter, he was struck in the chest by enemy rounds and mortally wounded. Sergeant Moehring'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. 1554 (May 2, 1969)
  

*Moncavage, David John

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to David John Moncavage, 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Moncavage distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 February 1968 as medical corpsman of a mechanized infantry battalion conducting a search and destroy mission near Cu Chi. The battalion was savagely attacked by an enemy force of unknown size firing automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades from entrenched positions. Braving an intense hail of bullets and flying shrapnel. Private Moncavage moved throughout the battlefield and rendered emergency medical treatment to wounded soldiers. When he had aided all the casualties in his platoon, he continued to exposed himself to the enemy's raking fire as he administered skillful aid to wounded comrades of other platoons in his company. Private Moncavage then raced across a wide, open area of bullet-swept terrain and resumed his lifesaving mission for another company which had suffered heavy casualties. After all the wounded had been treated, he rejoined his platoon and gallantly volunteered to serve as an infantryman to help suppress the relentless enemy fire. Private Moncavage was mortally wounded while destroying a fortified enemy bunker with a hand grenade. His fearless and dedicated efforts in close combat saved the lives of many fellow soldiers. Private First Class Moncavage'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. 1738 (April 15, 1968)
  

Monnick, Edward W., III

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward W. Monnick, III, 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, 1st Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Monnick distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 May 1968 as a squad leader during a reconnaissance-in-force mission south of Song Be. His squad received heavy automatic weapons fire while advancing through an abandoned rubber plantation. Several assaults were made on the enemy position, but each of them was unsuccessful. Specialist Monnick then maneuvered alone through dense jungle to the source of the hostile barrage, which he discovered to be a bunker with heavy overhead cover. Coming within inches of the emplacement's firing port, he threw grenades inside, but the enemy fire continued. Again braving a hail of bullets coming from the bunker, he threw two more grenades into it which caused one side of the fortification to collapse. Still its weapons were not silenced. Specialist Monnick next employed a grenade launcher against the bunker, firing rounds into it from an exposed position. This was also unsuccessful, so he engaged the enemy with his rifle. In a final assault, Specialist Monnick tossed another grenade into the bunker which completely destroyed its overhead structure. Then, with the aid of two of his comrades, he eliminated the remaining resistance with rifle fire. Specialist Four Monnick'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. 4330 (September 11, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald B. Montgomery, 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 E, 4th Battalion, 3d Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Montgomery distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 September 1968 as platoon leader during a combat operation near Phuoc Loc. While advancing in two columns, his element came under intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. Lieutenant Montgomery crawled across two hundred meters of open rice paddy to join the column which was under heaviest attack. There he learned that two soldiers had been killed and lay extremely close to the hostile positions. He and his platoon sergeant succeeded in reaching their fallen comrades, but as they were returning with the bodies the platoon sergeant was mortally wounded by sniper fire. Ignoring the communists' fusillade, Lieutenant Montgomery recovered all three casualties. He then directed armed helicopters to place suppressive fire on the aggressors, and after withdrawing his troops, skillfully directed air strikes which silenced the enemy position. While organizing helicopter extraction for his troops, he discovered that three soldiers were missing. Lieutenant Montgomery immediately left to search for the men and succeeded in locating them, but was severely wounded by enemy fire as he was leading them back to the platoon. Despite his wounds he engaged the aggressors with his rifle, killing three of the communists. Separated from his three companions during the fire fight, he again went to look for them but lost consciousness due to loss of blood and exhaustion. He was found several hours later after reinforcements arrived and forced the enemy to break contact. First Lieutenant Montgomery'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.