Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 5468 (November 27, 1968)
  

Patton, George Smith

(Second Award)

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is presented to George Smith Patton, Colonel (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 Headquarters, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Colonel Patton distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 24 September 1968 while directing a sweep around the village of Chanh Luu conducted jointly by the 36th Army of the Republic of Vietnam Rangers and Troop B of his 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Intense automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a house destroyed an assault vehicle and wounded several men, including the Rangers' commanding officer. Seeing that the Ranger unit was beginning to lose momentum, Colonel Patton had his command and control helicopter land in the middle of the embattled area and left the ship to rally the Vietnamese soldiers. Exposing himself to the hostile fire raking the area, he maneuvered them back to a supporting position near the enemy stronghold and directed his troops to more defensible terrain, while personally engaging the communists with his grenade launcher. He then led a charge which destroyed the house and revealed a heavily fortified bunker that had been concealed by the building. Ordering his men to lay down a base of fire, Colonel Patton crawled through the open terrain until he was at the fortification's entrance and hurled a grenade inside. When the enemy in the extensive and well protected bunker continued to resist, he assaulted a second time with two other men and placed TNT in the emplacement, annihilating the position. Colonel Patton'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. 839 (March 9, 1969)
  

Payne, Keith

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Keith Payne, Chief Warrant Officer (WO-2), Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with the Australian Army Training Team. While personally leading the 212th Company, 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion, in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 24 May 1969, his company was attacked by an overwhelming force of the North Vietnamese Army. The attack isolated the two lead companies. They then came under heavy rocket and mortar fire and an infantry ground assault from three directions. This intensive attack caused the strike force to begin withdrawing. Warrant Officer Payne, exposing himself to enemy fire, rallied the troops by firing his personal weapon and running from position to position, collecting and hurling grenades at the attacking enemy. He was wounded in his hands and arms. Despite his outstanding efforts, the indigenous soldiers retreated and the battalion commander and staff retreated with them. Warrant Officer Payne covered this retreat by firing his weapons and throwing grenades. Under heavy fire he ran across exposed terrain to stop the disorderly withdrawal - and as night fell - organized his company into defensive perimeter. He then proceeded into enemy held territory collecting some forty wounded and lost soldiers. Upon returning to the defensive perimeter, he found that his battalion had left. Undeterred he continued collecting staggers and led them and four American soldiers to a final rendezvous where he supervised the evacuation of all wounded personnel. He refused to be evacuated until all other wounded had departed the area. Through his sustained and courageous soldiery performance, he saved the lives of his American comrades in arms and many Vietnamese soldiers, bringing great credit to the Australian and United States Armies.

Born: 8/30/1933 at Ingham, Queensland, Australia

Home Town: Australia

Payne, Patrick J.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Patrick J. Payne, 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. On 7 February 1966, specialist Payne, a member of Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, was accompanying his unit on a search and destroy mission near My Canh, Republic of Vietnam. Following a trench line, his platoon was suddenly subjected to an intense hail of small arms and machine gun fire from insurgents concealed in well-fortified positions. The platoon was pinned down in an exposed position and men were being killed and wounded by the grazing fire inflicted by the insurgents. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Payne assaulted the Viet Cong machine gun and completely neutralized the deadly weapon by throwing a grenade through the front opening of the bunker. He then killed two insurgents attempting to protect the bunker by firing his rifle while rolling away from the exploding bunker. His initial assault and successful destruction of the machine gun bunker enabled his platoon to advance and completely rout the Viet Cong. Specialist Four Payne'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, Pacific, General Orders No. 145 (June 24, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Mickey K. Peacock, 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 Battery C, 6th Battalion, 32d Artillery, I Field Force. Specialist Four Peacock distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 30 January 1968 while serving with his artillery battery during an attack on its position near Tuy Hoa. A North Vietnamese Army battalion launched a massive rocket, mortar and ground attack against his unit’s perimeter during the pre-dawn hours and succeeded in breaching a sector of the defense. Realizing two of his comrades were trapped inside a bunker which was surrounded by the enemy, Specialist Peacock launched a personal assault on the insurgents and reached the position through a curtain of fire. Wounded by the intense fusillade, he ignored his own welfare and carried one of the wounded soldiers to safety. He refused aid for his own wound and assaulted against the enemy on and around the besieged bunker a second time. The hostile force concentrated its fire on him as he charged, but he refused to take cover and killed several of the attackers with deadly rifle firs. His heroic efforts were stopped when he was severely wounded by an exploding enemy rocket, but his furious fighting forced the North Vietnamese to withdraw from around the bunker. Inspired by his actions, his fellow soldiers mounted a savage counterattack which inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents and forced them to break contact. Specialist Four Peacock’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. 1424 (March 30, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Samuel L. Pearson, 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 Battery C, 3d Battalion, 82d Artillery, Americal Division. Specialist Four Pearson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 September 1969 while serving as an artillery fire direction computer at a fire base in northern I Corps Tactical Zone. In the early morning hours of 11 September 1969, Specialist Pearson’s battery was assaulted by a large and well armed enemy force advancing under cover of intense rocket and mortar fire. As the first enemy rounds began impacting within the battery compound, Specialist Pearson left his bunker and took up a position with an M-60 machine gun before the fire direction center. Although inflicted with multiple fragmentation wounds moments later when a satchel charge was flung at his position by an enemy sapper, Specialist Pearson remained at his position and continued to ward off infiltrators from the vital fire direction center, and flame throwers moving toward the fire direction center, Specialist Pearson, his vision obscured by head wounds, leaped up, charged the intruders, and killed all five with bursts of machine gun fire. Specialist Pearson then returned to his defensive position, and refusing medical attention, he fought off enemy sappers and relayed observations of enemy movement to the fire direction center for more than four hours amid barrages of rocket and mortar fire. Only at first light, when he was sure that the enemy had been repulsed and that his position was secure, did Specialist Pearson permit himself to be evacuated and given medical care. Specialist Four Pearson’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. 1034 (May 4, 1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas S. Pease, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company F, 75th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Pease distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 March 1969. His 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. 1630 (1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Millard A. Peck, 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, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Captain Peck distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 and 20 May 1968 while commanding an infantry company in Dinh Tuong Province, Vietnam. As his unit began an air-mobile assault against a Viet Cong force, it came under intense fire in the landing zone. Captain Peck immediately led a ground attack against the enemy, overrunning their positions and single-handedly capturing a communist soldier who attempted to escape. During a sweep of the battle area his men were fired upon by two well concealed snipers. Captain Peck crawled forward of his company and killed both aggressors. Interrogating his prisoner he learned a battalion was planning to attack the town of Vinh Kim. Reinserted by air to protect the threatened village, he established his company in night defensive positions. As the enemy came within range, several Viet Cong made suicidal charges against the company. Captain Peck directed his men to hold their fire and use only hand grenade and claymore mines so that their position would remain undetected. Aided by his skillful direction of artillery, his troops were able to repulse the numerically superior force. He then led a night patrol in pursuit of the fleeing enemy and again called in artillery fire forcing the communists to break into small groups and disperse. Early the next morning, Captain Peck led an assault against an enemy bunker complex and totally defeated the Viet Cong. Captain Peck'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. 5485 (November 29, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Charles Peda, 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 Troop A, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. First Lieutenant Peda distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 April 1968 as wingman of an aero-scout fire team that was engaged in reconnaissance of an area near Long Vinh known to contain many enemy positions. Lieutenant Peda located several of the insurgent emplacements and unhesitantly attacked them while being subjected to intense hostile fire. During the battle, Lieutenant Peda's helicopter was hit by automatic weapons fire, causing it to burst into flames and crash. He was thrown out of the aircraft as it hit the ground. Though badly wounded, he crawled back to the blazing wreckage to rescue his observer who was trapped inside it. Prior to reaching the aircraft, it exploded and threw Lieutenant Peda through the air, mortally wounding him. His courageous actions and determined efforts to save a fellow soldier's life were an inspiration to other aviators and troops in the area. First Lieutenant Peda'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. 3116 (June 29, 1968)
  

*Pederson, Roger Allen

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Roger Allen Pederson, 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, 3d Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Specialist Four Pederson distinguished himself as a medical aidman in support of a besieged American unit. While en route to the contact area, his convoy was ambushed by an enemy force firing rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons. Specialist Pederson leaped from his vehicle amid intense enemy fire and raced forward to treat the wounded. With enemy rounds spraying around him, Specialist Pederson treated two wounded soldiers and dragged both to safety. Although wounded in this action, he again attempted to reach another casualty. Ignoring his own wounds, Specialist Pederson began treating the casualty's wounds when a hail of enemy bullets struck his location. Specialist Pederson shielded the soldier with his own body, sustaining additional wounds. Shortly thereafter, he succumbed to his own wounds. Specialist Four Pederson'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. 2060 (June 14, 1971)
  

Peoples, Leon

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leon Peoples, 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, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Sergeant Peoples (then Specialist Four) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 April 1968 while leading a fire team on a search and destroy mission in Phu Bai Province. After long hours of exhausting and indecisive battle, Sergeant Peoples' platoon had made little progress in precisely locating the enemy's bunker fortifications in the thick, mountainous jungle. Discontented with his unit's stalemated advance, Sergeant Peoples crawled alone toward the North Vietnamese to reconnoiter their positions. When in sight of the first bunker, he was spotted and turned back by heavy fire. He then gathered his fire team and initiated a flanking maneuver on the enemy bunker. As the team advanced, the enemy opened up on them with streams of automatic weapons fire which held them fast to the ground and wounded many. Sergeant Peoples then drew the attention of the communist firepower by rushing them and dropping behind available cover as he assaulted. With grenades prepared for immediate detonation he made a final spring and dived for cover as the ejected grenades ripped through the hostile stronghold. Detecting a second bunker from which the enemy were placing suppressive fire on his team, Sergeant Peoples stole near the emplacement and unleashed on it several well-placed grenades. After dropping back for re-supplies of ammunition, he again infiltrated the enemy complex under thick fire and crawled without rifle up to a third bunker and eliminated its occupants with grenades. Picking up an enemy weapon, he then began routing the demoralized communists as they frantically retreated. Sergeant Peoples' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping and 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. 3419 (September 7, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Daniel Flores Perez, Jr., 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, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Perez distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March 1967 while serving as machine gunner of an infantry platoon on a combat mission deep in hostile territory. The platoon engaged and killed two hostile soldiers but when one man moved forward to search the area, he was seriously wounded by intense enemy fire. Without regard for his own safety, Specialist Perez rushed forward and directed a heavy volume of accurate fire into the enemy positions. Remaining exposed, he fought off repeated attempts by the enemy to reach his comrade. An enemy’ grenade wounded. him seriously but he continued to repel numerous hostile assaults. During a lull in the battle, Specialist Perez dashed to retrieve his fallen friend. He then continued to fight courageously until the enemy broke contact. He gave his life while gallantly fighting to protect his comrades in the face of grave danger. Specialist Four Perez’ 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. 4666 (September 14, 1967)
  

Perez, Joseph M.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph M. Perez, 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, 3d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Perez distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 May 1967 as a fire team leader of an infantry company conducting a search and destroy mission near the Cambodian border. As the unit reached the crest of a hill, it came under heavy sniper fire from treelines to the front and left flank. The commanding officer was mortally wounded by the initial volley. Specialist Perez directed the troops to seek cover while he remained exposed to the enemy and laid down suppressive fire. Several men took cover behind a log to escape the hostile barrage. As Specialist Perez joined them, the enemy began to employ mortars and rockets in addition to small arms fire. He and the small group behind the log were temporarily immobilized and forced to remain in that position, returning fire as effectively as possible. Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed in front of Specialist Perez. Without hesitation, he seized the grenade and absorbed its explosion with his own body to shield his comrades from the blast. He lay unconscious in the open area for approximately twenty minutes as continuing insurgent fire prevented anyone from going to his aid. Upon regaining consciousness, he crawled twenty meters to a point where he could be reached and treated by medics. His heroic act enabled his fire team to remain an effective fighting force and saved several of its members from being severely wounded or killed. Specialist Four Perez’ 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. 3691 (August 1, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Michael P. Perry, 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, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Sergeant Perry (then Specialist Four) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 29 September 1967 while serving as squad leader of an airborne infantry company on a search and destroy mission near Chu Lai. The forward platoons of the company received a heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire that pinned them down and inflicted several casualties. Sergeant Perry's platoon was contacted and requested to move forward and flank the Viet Cong. While advancing toward its sister elements, his unit was suddenly subjected to intense hostile fire from fortified and well concealed bunkers. While the rest of the troops provided supporting fire, Sergeant Perry and his platoon sergeant charged through a hail of bullets, firing their rifles and throwing hand grenades into the Viet Cong position. Several enemy grenades landed near Sergeant Perry, and he unhesitantly grabbed them and hurled them back at the insurgents. Although wounded by fragments from an exploding grenade, he refused to withdraw for medical treatment and continued his fierce assault until he had destroyed four enemy bunkers. He then quickly helped reorganize the platoon's troops and led them to relieve their beleaguered comrades. When savage automatic weapons fire again erupted on the platoon, Sergeant Perry and his platoon sergeant braved murderous fire to assault a Viet Cong position, successfully destroying it with hand grenades. Having expended his grenades, Sergeant Perry armed himself with enemy grenades and continued the attack through a curtain of fire. Sergeant Perry'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.