Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4648 (September 12, 1967)
  

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6469 (November 23, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kenneth E. Murphy, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Sergeant Murphy distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 November 1966 while serving as a squad leader with a recondo platoon on a search and destroy mission near Tuy Hoa. The unit had covered several thousand meters of terrain with negative results, until the point man finally came upon, and killed, a North Vietnamese soldier. When sporadic hostile fire was received from the left flank, Sergeant Murphy immediately led his squad in an assault on the insurgent positions. Suddenly, the entire hillside was raked by a devastating barrage, as North Vietnamese positions opened fire all around him. Seeing several soldiers fall wounded, Sergeant Murphy fearlessly ran through a hail of bullets to try and help them. Unable to reach his comrades on the first two attempts, he moved forward a third time, but was wounded in the head. Dazed, but undaunted, Sergeant Murphy succeeded in carrying one stricken soldier fifty meters to safety. When another man was hit, he again disregarded the extreme dangers to race back across the bullet-swept area. As sergeant Murphy returned with the man, he was again wounded by insurgent fire, but continued on until reaching friendly lines. Unmindful of his painful wounds, he then organized his men and led them in a fierce assault on the entrenched enemy. Dizzy from loss of blood and able to use only one arm, Sergeant Murphy gallantly crashed forward through dense foliage and personally killed three hostile soldiers with his rifle. His unimpeachable valor and boundless determination enabled his men to break out of the trap and overwhelm the insurgent force. Sergeant Murphy'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. 1376 (March 27, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert C. Murphy, 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 C, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. On 6 February 1966, Captain Murphy, his command group, and one reinforced rifle platoon were deployed by helicopter to complete an encirclement of an entrenched Viet Cong company in the village of Canh-Tinh, Republic of Vietnam. On two occasions en route to their objective, this unit was subjected to intense and accurate sniper fire. Captain Murphy remained exposed to direct airstrikes and artillery fire into the insurgent positions in order to enable his unit to complete their objective. As Captain Murphy and his comrades approached the village, they came under deadly grazing machine gun fire. Upon coordinating with the other unit commander to launch a company attack, he led his troops in an assault through a murderous hail of bullets to storm the insurgent trenches. The Viet Cong fell back upon facing the attacking force. A vicious house-to-house battle followed. The Viet Cong, defending a series of fortified bunkers, pinned down one of the leading elements. Realizing that the momentum of the assault was faltering, Captain Murphy seized the initiative and charged through the intense hail of fire to destroy a bunker and kill two insurgents. Inside the village, a machine gun began firing at Captain Murphy. With great courage, and under the covering fire of another man, he again charged the hostile position, destroying the bunker and killing four more Viet Cong. He then recognized and consolidated his forces. The success of the operation was marked by his professional ability and courage. Captain Murphy's extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.

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  HQ US Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 161 (July 14, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Michael J. Murray, 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, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Murray distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 February 1969 as a rifleman on a reconnaissance-in-force mission approximately seven miles west of Ben Cat. His company received intense rocket-propelled grenade, automatic weapons and small arms fire while moving into an enemy base camp. The unit immediately suffered several casualties and withdrew to regroup. When a flanking movement was sent against a series of hostile bunkers and spider holes, Specialist Murray volunteered to maneuver with this element, laying suppressive fire during his advance. As he neared a well-concealed bunker, a nearby patrol member was shot in the chest. Specialist Murray twice charged the fortification, placing fire into its gun ports until he was forced by concentrated enemy fire to rejoin his element. After a call was issued for three volunteers to rescue the wounded, Specialist Murray moved forward, pointing out the communists' firing lanes and bunker complexes. Faced with a hail of bullets from a bunker, he stopped in the midst of the fusillade to fire a light antitank weapon and hurl hand grenades which eliminated the fortification. The men came within twenty meters of the casualties, but were again forced back. Recovering an M-60 machine gun, Specialist Murray advanced to provide covering fire and, when the enemy continued their fierce resistance, stood and charged the bunker. He silenced it with fragmentation grenades, permitting his wounded comrades to be safely evacuated. Specialist Four Murray'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. 2249 (June 25, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Tracy Henry Murrey, 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 C, 4th Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate). First Lieutenant Murrey distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 November 1967 while serving as platoon leader of an airborne infantry unit during a search and destroy mission on Hill 875 at Dak To. A sister company had been pinned down by fierce enemy rocket, mortar and automatic weapons fire while assaulting the heavily fortified hill and Lieutenant Murrey fearlessly led his platoon through a curtain of fire to strengthen the right flank of the beleaguered force. Repeatedly exposing himself to the withering barrage, he positioned his men and directed a deadly fusillade against the enemy bunkers. He quickly determined the location of the heaviest fire and led his men in an aggressive assault on the hill. Inspiring his men by his calmness and determination in the face of the murderous enemy fire, he succeeded in leading his force across seventy-five meters of open ground toward the Viet Cong trenches before he was forced to momentarily withdraw under overwhelming hostile firepower. Quickly regrouping his forces, he led another fierce assault which swept to within fifteen feet of the enemy positions. He then hurled two hand grenades inside the nearest bunker. Other North Vietnamese soldiers, in nearby fortifications, saw his devastating attack and concentrated their fire on him. He was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his men in the heat of battle. First Lieutenant Murrey'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. 400 (January 27, 1968)
  

Myers, Richard J.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard J. Myers, 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, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Private First Class Myers distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions in the early hours of 13 August 1968 near Tam Binh Village. While Private Myers' platoon was waiting at an ambush location it suddenly came under a mortar barrage, followed by a ground attack from an estimated company-size Viet Cong force. The communists concentrated their assault against the right flank position being defended by Private Myers and six other men. Enemy rocket-propelled grenades, automatic weapons and grenade fire caused severe casualties, and soon only two men besides himself were able to fight. Private Myers fired his grenade launcher, threw hand grenades and gave instructions to his two comrades, while courageously holding off the communists. When another man was seriously wounded and after it was discovered that the M16 rifle could not be employed because the muzzle flashes and tracer rounds pinpointed the position, Private Myers was left with the responsibility of stopping the foe. Although he was himself wounded in the shoulder and hand by fragments, he continued to fire his grenade launcher at the aggressors and repelled repeated assaults. During lulls in the battle, he set up claymore mines and collected hand grenades from the casualties to use against the enemy. With the aid of artillery, gun ships and two other platoons, the Viet Cong were finally forced to flee and the wounded were evacuated. Private First Class Myers' 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. 1750 (May 15, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Daniel A. Nedolast, 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 Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Specialist Four Nedolast distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 April 1969 while serving as a medical aidman for a reconnaissance-in-force mission in the jungles northwest of Dau Tieng. In the first moments after a North Vietnamese force launched an attack on his troop, the foremost tank was hit by an enemy rocket. Observing that the explosion had halted the vehicle and wounded the entire crew, Specialist Nedolast dashed forward through the hostile barrage to assist the casualties. As he was mounting the track, a second rocket struck the vehicle and knocked him to the ground. He remounted the vehicle and pulled the wounded driver from his compartment carrying him to a safe location. Twice he returned through the fierce fusillade to remove injured crew members from the hazardous area. As the battle raged, Specialist Nedolast moved about the combat zone, treating wounded soldiers and assisting in their evacuation. Through his endeavors, thirteen men were successfully extracted and many lives were saved. Specialist Four Nedolast'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. 2947 (August 4, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dan Lee Neely, 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 B, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class Neely distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions n 1 March 1968 as radio-telephone operator of an airmobile infantry company on a search and destroy mission northwest of Hue. One of the company's platoons made contact with an estimated company of North Vietnamese Army regulars and immediately suffered several casualties. A reinforcement platoon moved up to assist and became pinned down behind a small bush line. Several medics attempted to crawl forward to give aid to the wounded who were lying in exposed positions, and they were hit by the enemy fire as they advanced. Private Neely began to move from position to position, exposing himself to the fusillade to collect hand grenades. Discarding his equipment and carrying only grenades and medical bandages, he then crawled forward toward the casualties. He maneuvered to within a few meters of a Viet Cong bunker and threw grenades at it in an attempt to silence its weapons. The attempt failed and he was driven back by a fierce enemy barrage. While the reinforcement platoon concentrated covering fire on the enemy position, Private Neely again moved forward, this time succeeding in reaching one of the wounded medics. After applying first aid to the man, he dragged him back to the relative safety of the friendly force's p perimeter. Private Neely secured a further supply of grenades and attempted to return to the remaining wounded. While crawling forward in the face of withering fire, throwing hand grenades at the enemy, he was mortally wounded. Private Neely'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. 3338 (July 15, 1968)
  

Nelson, Charles Edward

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles Edward Nelson, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on 10 January 1969 while serving as a platoon leader in Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Sergeant First Class Nelson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 January 1969 as a platoon leader in Don Luan Province during a mission to destroy a bridge which was a known enemy infiltration route. Sergeant Nelson was under the bridge preparing to demolish it when his company was suddenly subjected to intense automatic weapons fire from bunkers across the river. Seeing that the company commander was pinned down, he began to place covering fire, killing one North Vietnamese soldier, and remained in his exposed position until the commander had reached safety. As he was leading a withdrawal so that air strikes could be conducted, his platoon came under a heavy barrage from another group of bunkers. After positioning his men, he advanced alone toward the bunker, but was wounded in the chest by fire from a previously undetected fortification. Disregarding his painful injury, he crawled to within one meter of the bunker and hurled a grenade inside, killing the two occupants and relieving the pressure on his platoon. His men then reorganized and, with the help of another platoon, routed the communists. Sergeant First Class Nelson'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. 1587 (May 3, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hugh Reavis Nelson, Jr., Captain (Artillery), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism on 5 June 1966 while serving as a member of the 114th Aviation Company (Airmobile Light), 1st Aviation Brigade, engaged in military operations in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Nelson was acting as Aircraft Commander of a Cobra aircraft when it was struck by hostile gun fire, downed in the middle of many insurgent positions, and had all weapons destroyed in the crash. Upon the initial impact, all persons aboard the aircraft were unconscious. As the first person to regain consciousness with the physical ability to aid the other three crew members, Captain Nelson ignored his own injuries, debarked the aircraft, and started to evacuate his fellow soldiers. Proceeding to the left side of the aircraft, he ripped off the door with his bare hands and removed a dazed Specialist who had been pinned in the cargo compartment. After placing the Specialist on the ground and observing that the injured pilot had managed to get out of the aircraft, Captain Nelson climbed into the Cobra to assist another Specialist who was still trapped in the aircraft. Although the insurgents began a heavy volume of automatic and small arms fire at a range of approximately thirty feet from the aircraft, he continued his brave efforts until he freed the trapped crew member. He then forced the Specialist to the ground and, using his own body as a human shield to cover his comrade, saved the life of his fellow soldier at the sacrifice of his own. Through his gallant efforts, he enabled a crew member to send a signal with a smoke grenade to supporting aircraft which responded immediately and resulted in the successful evacuation of the survivors. Captain Nelson's extraordinary heroism on the battlefield, at the cost of his life, reflects great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the armed forces of his country.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 45 (December 1, 1966)
  

*Nelson, Larry Douglas

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Larry Douglas Nelson, 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, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Nelson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 August 1968 during combat operations east of Can Giuoc. While his platoon was receiving fire from a Viet Cong bunker system, Specialist Nelson spotted an approaching enemy soldier armed with a grenade. With complete disregard for his safety, he charged the advancing foe and wrested the grenade from him. During the struggle the pin on the grenade was pulled. Specialist Nelson immediately retrieved the deadly explosive and threw it away from the platoon so that it detonated harmlessly. As a squad began to assault the bunkers, one of the men fell seriously wounded. Specialist Nelson unhesitatingly crawled through the intense hostile fire to the injured man and returned him to safety. His platoon continued its efforts to destroy the fortified enemy bunker complex, and he began to move toward a bunker which was the source of heavy fire. Exposing himself to a hail of bullets, he stood up to hurl a hand grenade into the emplacement and was mortally wounded. Specialist Four Nelson'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. 5003 (October 29, 1968)
  

*Nelson, William DeWitt

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William DeWitt Nelson, 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, 7th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four Nelson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 November 1968 as a medic on a search and clear operations near Landing Zone Billie. His company made contact with a large well entrenched North Vietnamese Army force and during the initial barrage, was pinned down by the intense enemy fire and sustained heavy casualties. With complete disregard for his safety, Specialist Nelson ran across the open terrain to his injured comrades, treated their wounds, and carried them to an ambulance helicopter. Returning to the battle, he began to lay down an accurate volley of fire on the Communists' positions. During a brief lull in the fighting, he secured vital medical supplies and as the enemy renewed their attack, again moved unhesitatingly through the bullet-riddled area in response to a call for a medic. Seeing the company commander lying near a hostile bunker, Specialist Nelson placed himself between the fortification and the officer. Although wounded severely in the leg, he rapidly discharged an intense volume of fire as a fellow medic feverishly treated the injured commander. While Specialist Nelson was carrying the officer to the rear, a rocket landed inches from him, instantly taking his life. Specialist Four Nelson'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.