Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3625 (September 25, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard Michael Speer, 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 D, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). First Lieutenant Speer distinguished himself while leading a platoon during combat operations in Phuoc Long Province. Following a brief engagement with an enemy element, Lieutenant Speer led his platoon in pursuit of the fleeing enemy in order to maintain contact with them. After a short chase, the lieutenant noticed several enemy soldiers lying in ambush on the trail ahead. He immediately placed devastating fire on the enemy while his platoon took cover. Constantly exposing himself to the enemy return fire, lieutenant Speer moved among his men, shouting encouragement and directing their fire. When his radio operator was wounded by the intensified enemy fire, he administered aid to him. Lieutenant Speer then directed artillery fire within meters of his position causing the enemy to flee with heavy casualties. Throughout the battle, he maintained complete control of the tactical situation until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. First Lieutenant Speer'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4069 (August 31, 1970)
  

Speers, Max Dale

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Max Dale Speers, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, Detachment A-321, Company A, 5th Special Forces (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant Speers distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 November, 1966 while serving as Special Forces advisor to an irregular Vietnamese force during a search and destroy mission near Ben Soi. Sergeant Speers company was taking night perimeter positions when Viet Cong launched a mortar, rocket and machine gun attack on the unit, followed by a human wave assault from all directions. Although he was knocked to the ground by a mortar explosion early in the barrage, he grabbed a radio, quickly surveyed the camps defenses and radioed for air support. He remained exposed to hostile fire continuously while marking friendly positions with smoke to guide supporting aircraft, and while directing Vietnamese soldiers into better positions to repel the enemy attacks. As the situation became more desperate, he called in aerial ordnance on top of his own position because the Viet Cong had pressed so close to him, cutting him off from his troops. When a nearby companion was wounded, Sergeant Speers gave him first aid and dragged him to temporary safety. The insurgents continued their advance, so he directed aircraft to fire directly behind him as he dragged the casualty to a woodline. He joined the rest of his men, placed them into a defensive perimeter around a landing zone, and called for ammunition supply and medical evacuation helicopters. Without an interpreter, and under constant, intense fire, Sergeant Speers personally controlled the Vietnamese soldiers defending the landing zone until helicopters arrived with reinforcements and ammunition. His company was vastly outnumbered, but the remained calm through out the critical battle and retained control of the situation. By his courageous leadership, he saved his company and dealt the insurgents heavy losses. Sergeant Speers 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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3683 (July 20, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard G. Spence, 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, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Spence distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 April 1969 while serving as squad leader. As his company was moving through the hills west of Kontum, a North Vietnamese force opened fire with rockets, mortars and small arms. Because two of his men were cut off from the rest of the squad during the initial exchange of fire, Sergeant Spence quickly maneuvered through the hostile barrage to the isolated men and led them back to the squad's position. He then called in and adjusted supporting fire from gunships and artillery. Observing two enemy soldiers preparing to launch a rocket on his position, he immediately shot both and then turned to eliminate three who were flanking his squad's position. On three separate occasions when hostile forces stormed the element's location, Sergeant Spence met the brunt of the assault and repelled the assailants with determined volleys of rifle fire. Crawling forward in order to destroy a bunker and its occupants, he encountered a wounded comrade whom he carried to safety. When the enemy initiated an intense mortar barrage, he maneuvered through enemy-held terrain to silence the mortar emplacement with well-thrown grenades. Sergeant Spence'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4179 (November 18, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard A. Sperling, 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 155th Assault Helicopter Company, 52d Combat Aviation Battalion, 17th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. First Lieutenant Sperling distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions as aircraft commander of a helicopter assault mission near Duc Co. As the infantry was being inserted into a suspected enemy position, all ships in the lead elements came under heavy fire in the landing zone. Armed helicopters and bombers were called in but were unsuccessful in silencing the heavily fortified enemy positions. As Lieutenant Sperling’s element departed the landing zone, one of the helicopters received an intense burst of enemy automatic weapons fire which crippled it and caused it to crash. Despite advice not to land again because of the murderous insurgent fusillade, Lieutenant Sperling volunteered to attempt a rescue. He touched down in a small clearing one hundred and fifty meters from the wreckage, departed his aircraft, and plunged into the enemy-infested jungle. As he moved toward the downed crew, he was repeatedly subjected to insurgent sniper fire and mortar explosions. Braving the heavy barrage, he arrived at the burning aircraft and found that the enemy was rapidly closing on the crash site. Inspiring the downed crew members by his courage, Lieutenant Sperling led them back toward his waiting aircraft through a hail of bullets and shrapnel. He assisted them aboard the ship and flew out of the jungle clearing just as the enemy penetrated the surrounding treeline. Lieutenant Sperling’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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3212 (July 6, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward W. Spinaio, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Advisory Team 100, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Captain Spinaio distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 January 1969 while serving as advisor to a Vietnamese Ranger battalion at Fire Support Base Dot located five kilometers from the Cambodian border in Tay Ninh Province. Learning that one company had encountered a North Vietnamese bunker complex during a sweep operation, Captain Spinaio quickly organized a relief force and joined the besieged unit. When the indigenous company commander was wounded by fire from a hostile bunker, Captain Spinaio single-handedly stormed the fortification and destroyed it with hand grenades. He then proceeded to move the wounded to the evacuation point. As the men were being loaded on the helicopter, two enemy soldiers charged the landing site in an attempt to damage the aircraft. Captain Spinaio shot both assailants, enabling the extraction to be completed successfully. Captain Spinaio'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3124 (July 6, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James D. Spitz, 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 A, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airborne). Sergeant First Class Spitz distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on the morning of 27 March 1969 at Fire Support Base Jack. When a heavy concentration of hostile mortar fire began to pound the base, Sergeant Spitz dashed to his mortar section and began supervising the firing of high- explosive and illumination rounds. As the incoming barrage slackened and the enemy initiated a ground assault, he moved along the perimeter bunker line to direct the defense. While making his way through the fusillade of enemy rocket grenades, he encountered four communists storming the berm. Sergeant Spitz immediately charged the four enemy soldiers and drove them back. Before the hostile force could obtain reinforcements and attempt another assault, Sergeant Spitz regrouped the men along that section of the perimeter. Six of the enemy returned with satchel charges and rocket-propelled grenades, but Sergeant Spits’ intrepid counterattack drove them back once more. While gunships riddled the area outside the berm, Sergeant Spitz directed his attention to the M-42 self-propelled gun crew’s tent which had been struck by enemy fire. He rushed to help remove the wounded and then assisted in firing the M-42 gun at the charging enemy. Sergeant First Class Spitz'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3399 (September 4, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles A. Springer, 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 B, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Captain Springer distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 November 1967 while serving as commander of an infantry company conducting a search and destroy operation deep in enemy controlled territory. As the company moved through a clearing late in the afternoon, it suddenly received savage automatic weapons fire from a Viet Cong force occupying well fortified positions in a nearby tree line. Fire from a well-emplaced machine gun pinned the unit down. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Springer charged across the bullet-swept terrain toward the enemy bunker complex. Throwing grenades into the Viet Cong machine gun position, he single-handedly destroyed it, killing two insurgents and capturing the machine gun and a rifle. Throughout the ensuing battle, he courageously directed his company's retaliatory fire, while continually exposed to a hail of hostile bullets. When the enemy had been routed, Captain Springer reorganized his men and directed them toward another objective. The company had moved only two hundred meters when intense automatic weapons and machine gun fire erupted from both flanks, again pinning the unit down. With bullets striking all around him, Captain Springer rushed to his forward element, regrouped the men, and directed their defensive fires. He was mortally wounded during this savage fight to repel the enemy. His unhesitating actions and personal bravery, in close combat, inspired his troops to succeed in overcoming and destroying the numerically superior insurgent force. Captain Springer'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6637 (December 27, 1967)
  

*Sproule, William C., Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William C. Sproule, Jr., 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 B, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. First Lieutenant Sproule distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 May 1968 as a platoon leader of an airborne infantry company conducting a combat operation. His platoon made heavy contact with a large North Vietnamese force. During the assault on the enemy, Lieutenant Sproule moved out ahead of his men to fire more accurately on the insurgents and to adjust supporting artillery fire. As he advanced, he was hit in the chest by a burst of enemy automatic rifle fire. Ignoring his wounds, he moved to his point man who had been pinned down during the initial exchange of fire. Lieutenant Sproule provided covering fire for the man as he crawled back to join the rest of the platoon. He then adjusted artillery fire on the North Vietnamese positions, bringing it so close to his own location that he was wounded several times by the shrapnel. An enemy machine gun to his front began placing deadly fire on his platoon, and he attempted to direct the artillery on the emplacement to destroy it. This couldn't be accomplished without moving his platoon back. Rather than risk more casualties to his troops in a withdrawal, Lieutenant Sproule assaulted the position alone. He charged to within five meters of the gun, firing on the enemy the entire way, before he was mortally wounded by a burst of heavy fire from the weapon. First Lieutenant Sproule'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3685 (August 1, 1968)
  

*Squires, David Ray

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to David Ray Squires, Specialist Fifth 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, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Five Squires distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 June 1968 While serving as a medic during a search and clear operation in Dinh Tuong Province. Although his own unit was assigned to base camp security and not committed to battle, Specialist Squires volunteered to aid another battalion which was in contact with the Viet Cong and receiving many casualties. He was flown by helicopter to an area of fierce fighting. once on the ground, Specialist Squires constantly exposed himself for a period of three hours to the aggressors' heavy automatic, rocket and small arms fire to administer first aid and assist in carrying wounded men to safe evacuation points. Informed that a casualty lay exposed to the hostile fusillade only twenty-five meters from a communist bunker, he went sixty meters beyond the front line to reach the man. As he bandaged his injured comrade, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. his courage and professional treatment saved many lives and contributed greatly to his fellow soldiers' moral. Specialist Five Squires' 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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 5037 (October 31, 1968)
  

Stahl, Leonard C.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leonard C. Stahl, Second 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 as American Advisor to the 1st Battalion, 14th Regiment, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 March 1966, Lieutenant Stahl, while serving as battalion advisor, was accompanying the unit on a mission to secure an outpost that was under construction. When the lead elements of the battalion made sudden unexpected contact with a reinforced Viet Cong company, Lieutenant Stahl, disregarding his own personal safety, moved forward rapidly under intense automatic and small arms fire to ascertain locations and dispositions of the Viet Cong forces. In so doing, he came in direct contact with a Viet Dong squad, killed three immediately, seriously wounding one, and captured another, while the remaining Viet Cong hastily retreated. When he ran out of ammunition, Lieutenant Stahl took ammunition from nearby Vietnamese soldiers who had moved forward to investigate the encounter and he then returned through intense automatic weapons fire being received from the flank to search for his assistant who was missing. After finding him seriously wounded, Lieutenant Stahl without hesitation carried the wounded man across 300 meters of open rice fields being swept with deadly machine gun fire. Lieutenant Stahl then voluntarily returned to the front where he could effectively direct artillery and armed helicopter fire into the prepared hostile positions. Lieutenant Stahl's courageous actions not only saved the life of his assistant but permitted the battalion to successfully accomplish its mission. Second Lieutenant Stahl'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 207 (August 26, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Phillip Thomas Stahl, Specialist Fifth 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-102, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. During the period 9 and 10 March 1966, Special forces Detachment A-102 was attacked by two Viet Cong regiments at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 9 March 1966, Specialist Stahl, the team medic, took his position on the camp's south wall. The insurgents began the attack with mortar and small arms fire inflicting heavy casualties on the friendly forces. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Stahl exposed himself to drag the wounded from the open to areas of safety in order that he might treat their wounds. He was constantly running from position to position giving medical aid to the wounded. While doing this, he received two painful wounds, one in his left forearm, partially paralyzing his hand, and the other in his right leg. Despite these wounds he again braved the intense fire to rescue several Americans lying wounded in the center of the camp. Through the remainder of the day he continued in giving medical aid to the wounded while paying little attention to his own painful wounds, and also helped in the evacuation of his comrades while refusing to be evacuated himself. On the morning of 10 March 1966, the Viet Cong launched another regimental sized infantry assault. Personally manning a machine gun, he killed numerous insurgents as they threw wave after wave against Specialist Stahl's position. His find example of courage helped the defenders stall the Viet Cong main assault. Once more the insurgents mounted a full scale assault and Specialist Stahl returned to his position to continue firing the machine gun until the barrel glowed red hot. He resisted the onslaught by killing scores of attackers. As the insurgents moved within grenade range, Specialist Stahl was mortally wounded. Specialist Five Stahl'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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 163 (July 18, 1966)
  

Stark, Peter M.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Peter M. Stark, 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 Detachment A-362, Company A, 5th Special Forces (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant Stark distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 January 1968 as medic of a Special Forces patrol on a combat mission in Tay Ninh Province. Shortly after infiltration into the area of operations, the team located vacated enemy bunkers, huts and a base camp. The patrol found a storage area showing signs of recent use, and deployed along a trail to ambush Viet Cong elements that might approach it. Three enemy soldiers moved into the trap and one was taken prisoner. Sergeant Stark immediately treated the man for wounds he suffered in the ambush. The team then came under attack from an unknown size enemy force and moved toward a helicopter landing zone for extraction. Sergeant Stark repeatedly halted under the intense enemy fire to administer lifesaving treatment to the prisoner. He and the prisoner were among the first to be loaded aboard the rescue helicopter. As the pilot readied for takeoff, the ship was hit by a devastating barrage of rocket grenades, machine gun and automatic weapons fire. The craft became airborne but crashed thirty meters from the landing zone. Sergeant Stark had had both legs severed by the exploding rocket grenades. Completely disregarding his painful wounds, he crawled across the crash site to treat a severely injured comrade. When another soldier came to his aid, Sergeant Stark directed the man to treat the casualty while applying tourniquets to his own legs. He refused to be pulled out of the line of continuing enemy fire until the other wounded were moved to safety. Sergeant Stark'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.