Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3591 (1969)
  

*Teevens, Richard Paul

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard Paul Teevens, 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 B-36, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant Teevens distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 November 1967 while serving as a member of a Special Forces combat patrol on a mission deep in hostile territory. While moving through dense jungle in an attempt to engage enemy elements and capture a prisoner, his team detected heavy activity to its front. A reconnaissance element moved forward to investigate and reported finding a hostile base camp occupied by a numerically superior Viet Cong force. After requesting air strikes on the enemy camp, his unit was ordered to assault the position and mark it with smoke. As the patrol approached the camp, it was ambushed by insurgents firing the automatic weapons and small arms from well fortified positions. Sergeant Teevens saw a comrade hit and pinned down in the ravaging barrage and dashed across fifty yards of open ground under a hail of fire to rescue the man. With bullets striking all around him and friendly air strikes pounding the camp, he completely disregarded his own safety and remained exposed to the enemy weapons to treat the wounded man. The insurgents concentrated their fire on him, and he was hit by fragments from an exploding grenade while shielding his comrade with his body. Heedless of his wounds and the intensifying barrage, he crawled across the bullet-swept battlefield dragging his helpless comrade to safety. He was mortally wounded while unselfishly placing the safety of a fellow soldier above his own welfare. Sergeant Teevens' 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. 6248 (December 4, 1967)
  

Terry, Gilbert N.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gilbert N. Terry, Warrant Officer (W-1), 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, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion, 17th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Warrant Officer Terry distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 23 August 1968 as commander of a helicopter gunship operating near the city of Duc Lap. As his fire team approached the besieged city, it was discovered that the radio transmitter in the lead aircraft was inoperative. Mister Terry immediately took over the critical task of coordinating the team's activities with the forward air controller and the ground elements. A series of daring attacks was made on an enemy-held tree line, during which his ship was showered by the hostile fusillade. Although the helicopter had received numerous hits and the increasingly intense enemy fire continued to inflict damage on the aircraft, Mister Terry pressed the attack. Noting that the heaviest concentration of fire came from a row of buildings next to the tree line, he unleashed three rockets, scoring direct hits with each. Finding that he had no engine oil pressure, he attempted to reach a nearby friendly compound, but his helicopter received another concentrated burst of fire and crashed. Although painfully injured, he freed his pilot from the smoldering wreckage. Struggling through enemy automatic weapons and mortar fire, he and the pilot carried the severely wounded crew chief to the compound. After reaching the post, he was told there was a desperate shortage of ammunition. Without hesitation, and with complete disregard for his safety, he returned to the ship under a hail of bullets and impacting mortars and recovered the needed re-supply. Returning to the compound, he refused medical aid for himself until the crew chief had been treated. Warrant Officer Terry'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. 5646 (1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ronald T. Terry, Staff 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 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Staff Sergeant Terry distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 9 through 14 December 1964. 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, Pacific, General Orders No. 73 (March 30, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Samuel Silver Theriault, Master 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-344, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Master Sergeant Theriault distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 November 1967. His 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. 6701 (December 30, 1967)
  

*Thomas, Joe Minor

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joe Minor Thomas, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Specialist Four Thomas distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 24 September 1967 while serving as medic of an armored cavalry platoon on a combat mission deep in hostile territory. While moving along rice fields in search of hostile elements, his platoon was savagely attacked by a Viet Cog force firing automatic weapons from well fortified positions. He saw three comrades wounded by the intense barrage and sprinted three hundred meters across an open rice paddy under a hail of fire to aid them. With bullets striking all around him, he remained in the open to treat the casualties and move them to safety. He detected the Viet Cong emplacement and fired furiously into the attackers. Completely disregarding his own safety, he stood up in the midst of the firefight and fearlessly assaulted the enemy bunker alone. Firing lethal bursts as he ran into the face of the enemy weapons, he reached the fortifications and destroyed them with grenades and rifle fire, killing three enemy soldiers. He was mortally wounded while gallantly defending his comrades in the face of grave danger. His fearless actions completely defeated the determined insurgents and enabled his men to successfully complete their mission. Specialist Four Thomas' 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. 6017 (November 21, 1967)
  

Thomas, Richard A.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard A. Thomas, First Lieutenant (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 Company C, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Thomas distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 July 1968 when his cavalry troop was ambushed during a movement from Tay Ninh to Cu Chi. Lieutenant Thomas was riding with the troop commander in an armored personnel carrier when the column was attacked by a reinforced North Vietnamese company firing antitank rockets, automatic weapons and small arms. Within fifteen seconds the commander had been wounded by a rocket. Moments later another one stuck the vehicle, hurling Lieutenant Thomas to the ground. With complete disregard for his safety, he fully exposed himself to the heavy enemy fire and climbed back into the damaged track to reestablish contact with other elements of the column. He then called for gunship support and aircraft to evacuate the wounded. Shortly after reorganizing the unit and receiving air support, his vehicle was again hit by antitank fire, seriously wounding him in the arm. Refusing to be medically evacuated, he moved from vehicle to vehicle, ignoring the continuing fusillade to encourage his men and aid in the extraction of the other casualties. First Lieutenant Thomas' 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. 4523 (September 28, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William C. Thomas, 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, 12th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four thomas distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 November 1967 while serving as a rifle squad leader conducting a reconnaissance patrol on a hill near Dak To. His squad had penetrated the perimeter of a well entrenched North Vietnamese Army battalion when it suddenly began receiving intense automatic weapons fire from fortified bunkers. As the firefight grew more intense, it became necessary for the squad to return to its company's perimeter. Specialist Thomas remained in the battle area and covered his squad's withdrawal with his shotgun and grenade launcher. Rejoining his men, he learned that a squad member lay critically wounded near the enemy positions. With complete disregard for his own safety, he crawled back up the hill through a hail of bullets and retrieved the casualty. He then treated the man's wounds, saving his life. Again exposing himself to the withering barrage, Specialist Thomas fearlessly and expertly directed artillery strikes on the enemy bunker complex. Later, a sister squad maneuvering against the hostile force was pinned down by the fire from a spider hole emplacement. He crawled through a savage curtain of fire to within five meters of the position, threw a hand grenade into the hole, and silenced the enemy weapon. When he noticed an enemy soldier aiming his rifle at the American commander, Specialist Thomas threw himself onto the officer, knocking him to the ground as the bullet sped over their heads. He then courageously maneuvered through a fusillade of hostile fire and destroyed three more enemy bunkers. Specialist Four Thomas' 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. 6547 (December 21, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Byron W. Thompson, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Thompson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 July 1967 while serving as point man of the lead platoon of an infantry company on a reinforcing mission deep in hostile territory. While moving through dense jungle toward a beleaguered friendly unit, his company was savagely attacked by an estimated North Vietnamese regiment firing rockets, mortars and recoilless rifles. Completely ignoring his own safety, Specialist Thompson volunteered to provide rear security for a withdrawal despite bullets and shrapnel striking all around him. He was wounded while fighting through the first line of the enemy, but he refused medical aid and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers with deadly rifle fire. He was seriously wounded and thrown to the ground by an exploding hand grenade while piercing the last enemy positions, but he continued to expose himself to the hostile weapons to cover his comrades. Three enemy soldiers rushed him when he ran out of ammunition soon afterwards, but he unhesitantly stood his ground in the face of the savage charge and killed two of the attackers with his knife and the third in a furious hand-to-hand battle. Before reaching safety, he killed thirty North Vietnamese soldiers with deadly rifle fire and close-in fighting. His fearless actions, though he was seriously wounded and under intense fire, contributed greatly to the successful withdrawal of his company in the heat of battle against the numerically superior enemy force. Specialist Four Thompson'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. 5594 (November 1, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jerry W. Thurman, First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), 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 & Headquarters Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. First Lieutenant Thurman distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 30 December 1968 while serving as a helicopter commander on a visual reconnaissance mission. Between Lai Khe and Tan Binh, a Viet Cong soldier was seen hiding in a stream and was killed. Lieutenant Thurman banked his ship and engaged several more Viet Cong spotted at the same site. Although he was advised that there was an estimated forty Viet Cong in the area, he landed to capture prisoners who might provide valuable intelligence information. He and the crew chief armed with pistols and the door gunner with a rifle advanced upon the dead Viet Cong. Moments after Lieutenant Thurman shot and killed a Viet Cong hidden in a stream, he and his two companions came under intense fire from other concealed communists. Lieutenant Thurman signaled to his co-pilot to take off in the helicopter so it would not be hit by enemy rounds. The three men then advanced, securing two wounded Viet Cong and killing two more who jumped out of the water. Receiving fire from a sniper in a tree, Lieutenant Thurman crawled under the tree and killed him. After four infantrymen arrived to give assistance, he maneuvered forward with one of the men, but a Viet Cong sprang from his hiding place and mortally wounded the infantryman. Lieutenant Thurman quickly engaged and killed the aggressor, only to come under attack from another enemy soldier located on higher ground. Realizing it was useless to proceed alone, he returned to his comrades and established a secure position. When more reinforcements arrived, he and his crew returned to their ship from which they continued to provide covering fire and aerial observation for the ground troops. During the ensuing battle, they landed twice to evacuate casualties. Lieutenant Thurman'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. 1857 (May 23, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Brian Edward Tierney, 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, 1st Squadron, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Specialist Four Tierney distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 May 1968 while serving as a radio telephone operator near Quang Tri City. Specialist Tierney and two other soldiers entered a small village to capture a Viet Cong whose position had been spotted from a helicopter. When the point man saw the enemy crouching in a thicket and ordered him to surrender, the communist started to stand up as if to give himself up, but suddenly threw a grenade that he had been concealing. Seeing the deadly missile land a few feet from himself and his companions, Specialist Tierney shouted a warning and lunged towards the grenade to shield the others from the blast. Specialist Tierney was mortally wounded when the grenade exploded, but by his selfless act he saved his companions from injury. Specialist Four Tierney'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. 728 (March 1, 1969)
  

*Tiffany, David L.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to David L. Tiffany, 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 Company E, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Five Tiffany distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 May 1969 as a senior medical aidman on an airmobile operation in Long An Province. Immediately upon being inserted into its area of operation, Specialist Tiffany's platoon came into heavy contact with and enemy force. Returning fire, they forced the enemy troops to disperse. While moving n pursuit of the fleeing enemy, the platoon again came under intense fire and suffered casualties in the command element. Specialist Tiffany, who had been at the rear of the sweep formation, moved to the point of heaviest contact where his wounded comrades lay exposed to the hail of enemy ordnance. Although he was pinned down before he could reach the wounded men, he managed to silence a hostile emplacement long enough to run to the casualties. He quickly administered aid to the injured men and carried on casualty to safety. Returning to the center of conflict, he spotted his wounded platoon leader and immediately moved to his assistance. While attempting to rescue his comrade, he was mortally wounded. Specialist Five Tiffany'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. 3273 (August 23, 1969)
  

Tilley, Leonard W.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leonard W. Tilley, 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 Command and Control (North), FOB 2 (Khe Sanh), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Tilley distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 February 1967. 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. 1373 (March 27, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Arnold Tillquist, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 4 November 1965, Specialist Tillquist, a medical corpsman attached to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, was accompanying Company B on a search and destroy mission near Plei Me, Republic of Vietnam. As the lead platoon hacked its way through the dense Vietnamese jungle growth, they suddenly came upon a well-fortified Viet Cong emplacement, whereupon the point man immediately opened fire on the insurgent position. As the remainder of the company reached the area, they began a full scale assault on the hostile position. In what seemed to be a final defensive effort on the part of the insurgents, they steadily increased their fire on the advancing group. During this affray, a member of the friendly attacking force was wounded. A cry for a "medic" was heard, and Specialist Tillquist, who was in the front line of the assault, immediately gathered his medical equipment; went to the aid of the wounded man; administered first aid; and moved him to a better sheltered position, some thirty meters from the main line of fire. After securing his patient, he noticed that another of his comrades was wounded and lying in the midst of hostile fire. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he charged through the intense hostile barrage to the aid of the wounded man and again administered first aid, moving his comrade to a safer position. As he secured the second man, he saw another of his comrades fall wounded, directly in front of a Viet Cong machine gun emplacement. Despite being almost completely exhausted and disregarding his own personal safety, Specialist Tillquist stripped off his web gear; grabbed his rifle and aid kit; and began to crawl to the aid of the wounded man. During this valiant attempt, he was mortally wounded when hit in the back by a burst of fire from the hostile machine gun. Specialist Tillquist's extraordinary heroism, compassion for his fellow man, and supreme sacrifice were 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. 43 (February 28, 1966)
  

Home Town: Branford, Connecticut

Tissler, John G.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John G. Tissler, First Lieutenant (Field 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 Company, 3d Battalion, 34th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Tissler distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 March 1969 while serving as a forward observer during a reconnaissance-in-force mission north of Ben Tre in Kien Hoa Province. As the company was moving into night ambush positions, an enemy force opened fire. Lieutenant Tissler immediately retaliated with his rifle and sought cover in a shallow canal. Finding himself alone well forward of his unit's position with a radio damaged by hostile rounds, he proceeded to rejoin his group. As he moved along the ditch, he encountered fire from a sniper hidden in a tree. He quickly killed the sniper and moved toward a machine gun emplacement, which he destroyed with a grenade. Soon he detected a Viet Cong squad of twenty, maneuvering into a position to assault the friendly force. From his location behind a fallen tree, Lieutenant Tissler threw two grenades into their ranks and strafed them with rifle fire. With only two magazines left and perceiving that the enemy had started to surround him, he crawled along the canal until he came upon four friendly troops who were treating two casualties. He repaired their radio and contacted his unit. When the small group moved out to rejoin the main patrol, Lieutenant Tissler, acting as rear guard, killed two Viet Cong and wounded a third. As soon as he reached his unit, he asked for and received nine volunteers to search for five missing personnel. Until the missing were found or accounted for, he continued his efforts. First Lieutenant Tissler'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.