Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3728 (August 11, 1970)
  

Smith, James H.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James H. Smith, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division. Sergeant First Class Smith distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 29 March 1969 while acting as platoon leader on a company combat sweep mission southwest of Duc Pho. When another platoon became pinned down by a large North Vietnamese force, Sergeant Smith immediately proceeded to move his platoon to their rescue. Because of insufficient cover from the heavy hostile barrage, he could maneuver no closer than one hundred meters to the beleaguered element. Sergeant Smith called in the assistance of gun ships and armored personnel carriers. Realizing that hostile and friendly positions had to be differentiated before an air strike was made, he started crawling forward into the fusillade. When a North Vietnamese position poured strafing fire on him, he retaliated with rifle and grenade volleys, effectively silencing the emplacement. As he marked the positions with smoke grenades, a burst of hostile fire wounded him in the face and shoulder. He, nonetheless, continued his mission until the gun ships arrived and his medical evacuation was made possible. Sergeant First Class Smith'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. 2471 (July 9, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lynn Hudson Smith, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company A, 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam on 1 February 1968. On this date, Company A was conducting a sweep mission in the city of My Tho when its lead element was suddenly attacked and pinned down by a well-entrenched Viet Cong force. Upon observing that the company was unable to move to the assistance of the point element, Lieutenant Smith courageously led his platoon through the intense hostile fire in an attempt to reach the endangered point element. Fighting his way from house to house, Lieutenant Smith brought his men to the edge of a large open area where they were once again pinned down by the enemy fusillade. Realizing that the members of the point element would have to be brought to safety before artillery could be called in, Lieutenant Smith, unmindful of his personal safety, made several attempts to lead a party of his men across the fire-swept area but was forced to turn back each time because of the extremely heavy enemy fire. Determined to rescue the lead element, Lieutenant Smith sighted an unoccupied jeep, ran to it, and drove it through the murderous barrage of enemy fire to the point element. After loading the wounded members of the point element onto the jeep, he started back through the enemy's zone of fire and had almost reached cover when he was mortally wounded by an enemy round. Lieutenant Smith's gallant actions enabled the point men to reach safety and contributed significantly to his company's efforts to drive the Viet Cong from the city. Lieutenant Smith's extraordinary heroism and concern for his comrades-in-arms 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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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 58 (September 24, 1969)
  

Smith, Mark A.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Mark A. Smith, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism during the period 5 April 1972 to 7 April 1972 while serving as the Senior Battalion Liaison Officer to the 9th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 April 1972, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched a major offensive with the objective of capturing Binh Long Province in Military Region Three. The 5th Viet Cong Division was targeted against Loc Ninh the capital of Loc Ninh District in northern Binh Long Province. The 5th Viet Cong Division launched a massive coordinated ground attack against Loc Ninh beginning early in the morning of 5 April 1972. The attack was supported by artillery and tanks. Captain smith skillfully directed tactical airstrikes and helicopter gunships in support of the 9th Infantry Regiment and other South Vietnamese forces in the area. To inflict the maximum casualties on the enemy and to bring the fires as close as possible to the friendly forces, he left the safety of his bunker and moved throughout the area seeking strategic vantage points from which he directed friendly fire. Time and time again he directed the fighters, bombers, gunships, and artillery fire on top of his own position to drive off the attacking enemy. The combination of Captain Smith’s courage and professional skills coupled with all available firepower kept the numerically enemy at bay for more than two days. Captain Smith’s extraordinary heroism was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 30 (September 18, 1973)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Norwood W. Smith, Jr., Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Norwood distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 October 1971. 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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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 40 (October 27, 1972)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Patrick R. Smith, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop L, 3d Battalion, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Sergeant Smith distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 January 1968 as an armored assault vehicle commander on a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Loc Ninh. His column was taken under an extremely heavy volume of automatic weapons and small arms fire from an insurgent force concealed in dense vegetation along the roadway. The dismounted elements which flanked the formation were pinned down immediately. Seeing this, Sergeant Smith directed his track against the enemy positions. Four direct rocket hits inflicted severe wounds on him and several of his crew and caused his vehicle to burst into flames. Although dazed and in great pain, Sergeant Smith continued to direct a lethal volley of machine gun fire on the insurgents, enabling the ground troops to maneuver into a better defensive position. He then began evacuating his wounded crew members from the flaming vehicle. Observing several Viet Cong rushing the track to take its weapons and ammunition, Sergeant Smith quickly returned to it and annihilated the onrushing force with machine gun fire. Flames in the vehicle caused it to explode, blowing him out of the commander's hatch. Disregarding his additional wounds and burns, he freed the trapped driver and evacuated the man to an aid station. Refusing medical attention for himself, Sergeant Smith continued to fight until the enemy was routed and driven into the jungle. Sergeant Smith'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. 3117 (June 29, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Paul F. Smith, Major General, 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, 173d Airborne Brigade. Major General Smith distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 November 1966 while commanding the 173d Airborne Brigade on a search and destroy operation near Minh Thanh. Despite the extreme hazards involved, he boldly chose to visit a forward patrol base that had been under sniper and claymore mine attack for three days. At the time General Smith arrived, the perimeter was only manned by a skeleton force, but he insisted upon visiting the troops that were on line. Within ten minutes, two platoon patrols outside the camp were pinned down by a large Viet Cong force and the perimeter was again ravaged by intense hostile fire. Unmindful of the dangers, General Smith refused to take cover and calmly proceeded among the defenders, encouraging the men in their foxholes. Throughout the three-hour battle, he provided tactical advice to his subordinate commanders. At one point, the elements under severest attack were perilously low on ammunition, but because of devastating ground fire aerial re-supply was prevented. With complete disregard for his safety, General Smith fearlessly exposed himself to the hail of bullets and directed an armed helicopter strike on the charging Viet Cong. This courageous and timely action enabled the supply aircraft to land and allowed the besieged camp to finally repel the insurgent force. Later after the wounded had been evacuated, he conduced an aerial reconnaissance of the area an discovered a large cache of rice and supplies. His unimpeachable valor and profound concern for his men turned impending disaster into a major victory over a numerically superior hostile force. Major General Smith'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. 497 (February 1, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ralph Smith, 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, 27th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four (then Private First Class) Smith distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 16 May 1967 while serving as squad leader with an infantry company on a night assault mission near Ap Rach Gau. While moving across a rice paddy to join with a company trapped by a numerically superior enemy unit, his platoon was attacked by a well entrenched Viet Cong force firing machine guns and automatic weapons. Seeing his machine gunner killed, Specialist Smith grabbed the weapon and led a fierce attack on the nearest enemy bunker. After killing the protecting riflemen with an accurate volley, he placed the muzzle of his weapon into the firing port and destroyed the position with a deadly burst of fire. He saw a platoon of Viet Cong escaping across an open field and ran to a dike to attempt to halt them. Ignoring a hail of bullets striking all around him, he stood up and inflicted heavy casualties with volley after volley of deadly fire. Regrouping his men, he led a furious charge on the determined insurgents which defeated them and forced them to withdraw. His courageous actions inspired his men to greater heights and contributed immeasurable to the success of the mission. Specialist Four Smith'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. 4967 (September 28, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Michael Snell, Captain (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 Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Battalion, 320th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division. Captain Snell distinguished himself on 14 June 1969 while serving as an artillery liaison officer to the 327th Infantry. In the early morning hours, an intense mortar attack followed by a ground assault was launched against Fire Support Base Berchtesgaden. When the first enemy rounds hit, several personnel were injured and in need of immediate medical attention. Captain Snell, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved fifty meters from his protected bunker through the heavy volume of enemy mortar fire to assist the wounded. He carried one wounded soldier back to the safety of the bunker and was going out the bunker door to retrieve another man when a round impacted at his feet and mortally wounded him. Captain Snell's unselfish dedication to his fellow soldiers was directly responsible for saving the life of the man he had carried to safety. Captain Snell's extraordinary heroism and dedication 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. 166 (January 19, 1970)
  

Home Town: Lamesa, Texas

Snoddy, Harold M.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harold M. Snoddy, 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 D, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Sergeant Snoddy distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 May 1969 during an enemy rocket attack followed by a ground assault on Landing Zone Grant. Almost immediately after the attack began, a contingent of sappers managed to overtake four perimeter bunkers. Sergeant Snoddy, who had volunteered to join the reaction force, quickly moved toward the threatened area to repel the assailants. As he made his way through the hail of enemy fire, he observed several hostile soldiers just outside the berm preparing to launch a B-40 rocket. Unleashing a salvo of rifle fire, he eliminated the position. He resumed his advance on the enemy-held bunkers, and despite being thrown to the ground again and again by the concussion of satchel charges, he succeeded in recapturing a perimeter bunker by killing the enemy with hand grenades. From that position he hurled grenades into a nearby fortification, routing the hostile soldiers. He then pursued the retreating troopers as they withdrew to another bunker. In spite of sustaining a fragmentation wound, he continued to advance and killed two of the communists before they reached the bunker. Fearing that the position contained injured American personnel, he refrained from employing grenades and single-handedly charged the bunker to silence the remainder of the enemy force. Inside the bunker, he discovered a wounded comrade whom he treated and evacuated to safety. Sergeant Snoddy'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. 3396 (September 4, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert A. Snyder, Captain (Artillery), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery B, 7th Battalion, 11th Artillery, 25th Infantry Division. Captain Synder distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 August 1968 while serving as a battery commander at a fire support base camp near Nui Ba Den. Under cover of a barrage of rockets, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, an estimated North Vietnamese regiment attacked the camp. During the initial barrage, a tank twenty meters to the battery's front received a direct hit from an enemy rocket-propelled grenade. Captain Synder immediately moved through the fusillade to aid the wounded crew members. Injured by fragments from an enemy rocket, Captain Synder refused medical attention as he evacuated the casualties out of the killing zone to safety. He then returned to his battery and moved from howitzer to howitzer, encouraging his men and pointing out targets. During the battle, he spotted North Vietnamese troops attempting to breach the perimeter. He again exposed himself to the murderous fire as he killed three of the hostile soldiers. The following morning Captain Synder led a squad in a sweep of the perimeter, capturing four of the aggressors. Captain Snyder'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. 5582 (December 3, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ronald J. Soppe, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Soppe distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 September 1968 while serving as a medical aidman during an enemy assault on the Ben Cui rubber plantation. His company was attacked at its night logger location by an estimated enemy battalion. Specialist Soppe immediately began moving from position to position under the aggressors’ barrage of antitank rocket, machine gun and small arms fire, searching for casualties and administering first aid. When a nearby armored vehicle was set on fire by a direct hit, he ran to the track and quickly extinguished the blaze. Attempting to reach an injured comrade, he was severely wounded in the arm by fragments from an enemy rocket. Disregarding his own welfare, he continued on to the wounded man, treated him and carried him to a safe position. Despite his painful wound, Specialist Soppe constantly exposed himself to hostile fire as he went to the aid of six other injured soldiers. Alter the battle, he helped load the wounded on a helicopter and remained behind in case of a second assault. Specialist Four Soppe’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. 5845 (December 26, 1968)
  

*Sosa, Aristides

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Aristides Sosa, Corporal, 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, 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. Corporal Sosa distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 March 1968. On this date, Corporal (then Private First Class) Sosa was part of a four-man engineer team accompanying an infantry unit on a reconnaissance-in-force operation in the vicinity of Lai Theiu when the friendly force came under attack from Claymore mines, automatic weapons and small arms fire. Moments after he had reached cover in a ditch, there was a devastating explosion nearby and he was painfully wounded. As one of his comrades crawled to his position to offer assistance, an enemy grenade was detected flying through the air toward Corporal Sosa's position. As the grenade landed and began rolling toward his comrade, Corporal Sosa rolled on top of the grenade to save the soldier from its blast and was mortally wounded by the exploding grenade. His courageous actions in complete disregard for his own safety were responsible for saving the life of his comrade. Corporal Sosa'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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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 80 (December 16, 1968)
  

*Sowell, Ronald

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ronald Sowell, 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, 12th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Sowell distinguished himself on 24 October 1969 while serving as a medic during an airmobile operation. On this date his company came under intense automatic weapons fire from an enemy force in a well-fortified bunker complex. the friendly element assaulted the hostile emplacements three times, attempting to rout the enemy from their positions. During the final assault the third platoon suffered numerous casualties and Specialist Sowell began to maneuver through the hostile fusillade to their aid. He crawled to within five feet of an enemy bunker to treat a wounded comrade and then carried him to the relative safety of the friendly defensive lines where he insured the casualty would receive treatment. Again he returned through the hail of enemy rounds to help another wounded soldier and while evacuating him Specialist Sowell was seriously wounded by rifle fire. After bringing his fellow soldier to safety, he received medical attention but refused evacuation. Despite the withering volley of fire, he again advanced to within five feet of an occupied bunker to administer aid to another wounded man. As he was carrying the soldier back to cover behind the perimeter, Specialist Sowell was shot again and fatally wounded. He managed to drag his comrade to cover before succumbing. His courage and devotion to duty at the sacrifice of his own life saved the lives of two of his comrades. Specialist Four Sowell'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. 4390 (December 6, 1969)
  

Spackman, Philip L.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Philip L. Spackman, First Lieutenant (Armor), 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 E, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Spackman distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 July 1969 while serving as platoon leader during a unit patrol operation in the Rice Bowl district near An Lao. As the lead armored personnel carrier crossed a stream and penetrated a hedgerow, it was struck simultaneously be several rocket grenades, wounding all the occupants. A hostile force of North Vietnamese began moving down the stream bed to cut off the damaged vehicle from the rest of the troop. Lieutenant Spackman immediately killed the nearest enemy soldier and repelled the rest of the assailants. While reinforcements secured the river crossing, he dashed to the vehicle through strafing automatic weapons fire and removed the casualties from exposure to direct fire. Then he and the less severely wounded carried the injured across the stream. Deploying the other vehicles along the river bank to engage the hostile positions beyond the hedgerow, he directed their firing as well as that of the gunships which had arrived. He also established communication with and assisted the commander of an Infantry element that had been airlifted near the enemy force. When the infantrymen began advancing on the communists' flank, Lieutenant Spackman maneuvered his armored personnel carriers on line and rolled toward the enemy positions. Encountering stiff resistance from one bunker, he directed his driver to rush the position. Firing from atop his tracked vehicle, Lieutenant Spackman pinned the enemy down until his vehicle passed by the position into which he threw several grenades, which destroyed the structure and killed the enemy. With the last bunker eliminated, the enemy were routed from the area. First Lieutenant Spackman'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.