Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2809 (July 24, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John J. Tolson, III, 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, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Major General Tolson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 14 February 1968 to 27 March 1968, as Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division in Hue. During the Tet offensive the city was gravely endangered by North Vietnamese Army Forces, and General Tolson decided that only by personal liaison could he determine the situation and proper course of action. On three separate occasions he piloted his helicopter at low level through heavy enemy ground fire and adverse weather conditions to the Hue Citadel for urgent operational conferences with the embattled South Vietnamese commander. By establishing close liaison with the South Vietnamese commander, General Tolson developed a coordinated plan to liberate the city with minimum destruction to property and its friendly inhabitants. His personal bravery and leadership by example were an inspiration to the beleaguered defenders and gave the South Vietnamese commander renewed hope and confidence. On 14 February the Citadel was under siege when he again flew his aircraft through the intense hostile small arms fire to land at an allied command post. Upon finding two wounded marines in need of medical treatment, he directed his pilot to fly to a hospital. During the infantry assault on Hue, General Tolson landed his aircraft at each of the commander posts of the four 1st Air Cavalry battalions to effectively coordinate their attack. In so doing he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he flew at three top level over occupied terrain and often times landed while the maneuver battalions were engaging in combat with insurgent forces. The divisions overwhelming success in the liberation of Hue can be attributed to General Tolson's dynamic leadership. Major General Tolson's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the U.S. Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2806 (June 11, 1968)
  

(First Award)

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dennis C. Tomcik, 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, 47th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Tomcik distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 October 1968 as a platoon leader during an aerial combat assault near the village of Trum Doung in Kien Hoa Province. As Lieutenant Tomcik's unit landed, it came under intense automatic weapons fire from an estimated company of Viet Cong occupying well fortified positions. The platoon was split into two parts and pinned down by the barrage. Fearlessly moving ahead of his element, Lieutenant Tomcik assaulted an enemy bunker and killed three communists with bursts from his rifle. When six of his men moved up to join him and began providing covering fire, he charged a second stronghold and threw a grenade into its gunport, killing two Viet Cong and capturing a third. He and his comrades were then subjected to heavy fire from their flank. Dodging through the bursts of enemy fire, Lieutenant Tomcik ran to his element which was still pinned under the hostile fusillade, secured a machine gun and ammunition, then returned to his forward position to counter the heavy flanking fire. After directing gunship strikes within twenty-five meters of his location which killed eight of the enemy, he led his small band in assaults on six more bunkers, killing seventeen Viet Cong. First Lieutenant Tomcik'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. 697 (February 27, 1969)
  

Tomcik, Dennis C.

(Second Award)

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is presented to Dennis C. Tomcik, 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, 47th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Tomcik distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 30 December 1968 while commanding his company on a reconnaissance-in-force mission in Kien Hoa Province. After moving into an enemy infested area, and establishing his unit in a defensive position, Lieutenant Tomcik left with eight men to locate hostile activity. Approaching a small hut, he spotted a Viet Cong and wounded him with a burst of rifle fire, but the enemy managed to escape. Lieutenant Tomcik pursued the fleeing communist and, coming upon a large stream, directed his troops to take cover while he and one man continued the chase. Hearing voices while searching a dwelling, he stepped outside and confronted three armed Viet Cong, whom he shot and killed Fifteen to twenty Viet Cong suddenly opened fire, and Lieutenant Tomcik courageously returned the fire, killing one of the advancing foe, enabling his comrade to withdraw. When he reached the stream, he found that his companion was floundering in the deep, rapid water. Disregarding a hail of enemy bullets, he plunged in and pulled the man to safety. He then directed his elements fire and called in artillery strikes during the trip back to the company. First Lieutenant Tomcik'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. 1729 (May 14, 1969)
  

Tomlinson, Raymond F. R.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Raymond F. R. Tomlinson, Major (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 Delta Combat Assistance Team 60, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Major Tomlinson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 15 to 17 January 1971 while serving as the G-3 advisor to the 9th Infantry Division (ARVN) during a search for three Americans missing in action near Ta Bec Mountain, Chau Doc Province. Shortly after finding and evacuating one of the Americans, his patrol was engaged by a Viet Cong company which inflicted heavy losses upon the friendly team. Although wounded in the initial encounter, Major Tomlinson quickly organized a defensive perimeter and summoned a rescue helicopter. Upon arrival the helicopter was shot down by enemy ground fire. With darkness approaching, Major Tomlinson, realizing that the hostile force could annihilate his patrol if located, moved his besieged team to another location. Using night tactics, he successfully avoided detection by the enemy. The following day he established communications with evacuation helicopters and they were extracted from the contact area. Major Tomlinson'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. 2264-342 (June 29, 1971)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Tomlinson, 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, 47th Infantry (Mechanized), 9th Infantry Division. Captain Tomlinson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 January 1968 while serving as commanding officer of an infantry company during a reconnaissance-in-force mission in Bien Hoa Province. During the early morning hours, a sister company made heavy contact with a large, well entrenched Viet Cong force and was completely pinned down by accurate automatic weapons and rocket fire. Upon hearing the sounds of battle, Captain Tomlinson ordered his unit to move toward the enemy positions. Maneuvering through thick underbrush to the left flank of the beleaguered force, he and his men came under rocket attack from enemy bunkers. Without hesitation, Captain Tomlinson pressed the attack, continuously exposing himself to intense small arms fire. His company broke through the enemy's outer perimeter and began drawing heavy fire from every direction. Fighting from within the insurgent's stronghold, Captain Tomlinson brilliantly maneuvered his company to bring maximum casualties on the Viet Cong. His force completely overran the enemy. He then led his troops to suspected Viet Cong escape routes and established hasty ambushes which caused further casualties to the fleeing enemy. Captain Tomlinson'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. 3657 (July 30, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert L. Tonsetic, 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, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light). Captain Tonsetic distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 31 January 1968 as commander of an infantry company on a combat mission near Ho Nai. While leading his men through the village, his point squad encountered the forward elements of a large Viet Cong unit which was preparing to attack the United States' 199th Infantry Brigade base camp. Braving heavy enemy fire, he moved forward to direct artillery fire to within fifty meters of his troops' position. He then called helicopter gunships. As they spewed their deadly fire upon the enemy, he exposed himself to ricocheting small arms fire and rocket shrapnel to locate and bring firepower on additional hostile positions. Captain Tonsetic then personally led an assault on the enemy, inspiring his men to move forward under the barrage of enemy fire. The Viet Cong attacked the advancing force with mortars. Captain Tonsetic engaged the enemy mortars with a massive volley of all available grenade fire and destroyed the position. He then maneuvered to close with the insurgents in a creek bed. After an hour-long battle, the enemy withdrew, and the friendly force established a defensive perimeter. The enemy counterattacked from three sides. Captain Tonsetic skillfully deployed his maneuver elements and adjusted tactical air strikes and supporting artillery fire on the assaulting insurgents. His fearless leadership inspired his men to fight furiously and successfully repel the Viet Cong. Captain Tonsetic'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. 3687 (August 1, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Juri Toomepuu, Major (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 175th Aviation Company, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Major Toomepuu distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 March 1967 while serving as commander of a troop transport helicopter during an aerial assault on a large entrenched Viet Cong force near Vihn Long. Although intense fire greeted the lead helicopters entering the landing zone, Major Toomepuu calmly landed, discharged his troops, then skillfully maneuvered out of range of the enemy weapons. His aircraft had received many hits during the infiltration operation, but when it was decided to evacuate casualties from the ravaged battlefield, Major Toomepuu readily volunteered. Helicopters spread a screen of smoke in the area, but Viet Cong machine gunners were only 75 meters from the touch down point and constantly raked the zone with deadly fire. Heedless of his personal safety, he hovered around the field searching for disabled soldiers. Each time the smoke screen dissipated, enemy gunners poured intense fire at his aircraft and repeatedly succeeded in hitting it. Nevertheless, Major Toomepuu painstakingly searched the zone and found a wounded pilot, a downed crewman, and a Vietnamese soldier with a critical head wound. When his two crewmen were unable to life a wounded pilot out of the rice paddy, Major Toomepuu jumped from the helicopter and freed the pilot from mud and tall grass, while four Viet Cong machine guns tried to cut down the rescuers. With the casualties on board, he returned to the controls of the aircraft and made a fast, low-level departure. Major Toomepuu'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. 2376 (May 25, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clifford R. Totten, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Totten distinguished himself on 3 July 1966 while serving as artillery forward observer for a two squad patrol near Thang Duc. When his patrol received intense hostile fire from an estimated company of Viet Cong. a portion of the patrol was overrun and the reminder surrounded. Observing that he was about to be overrun himself, Sergeant Totten, with complete disregard for his safety, called in an uninterrupted barrage of artillery fire on his own position for a period of three hours. When his platoon leader was killed, Sergeant Totten immediately assumed command of the remaining men and organized a tight defensive perimeter. When their ammunition was expended, Sergeant Totten and one of his comrades dashed onto the battlefield to collect more. On five occasions during the repeated attacks on the perimeter, Sergeant Totten fearlessly picked up Viet Cong grenades and threw them back at the fanatical insurgents. A sixth hostile grenade exploded and wounded him in the arm. When reinforcements arrived, he pointed out the location of his men as well as nearby Viet Cong replacements. Sergeant Totten left the area after his seriously wounded comrades had been safely evacuated. Sergeant Totten’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force 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. 5803 (September 26, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Samuel W. Townsend, 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 B, 2d Battalion, 77th Artillery, 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Townsend distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 March 1967 while serving as member of a battalion reaction force during a massive Viet Cong attack on n artillery base near Suoi Tre. At the onset of the attack, Specialist Townsend's unit moved out to reinforce the infantry on the perimeter. The perimeter force began to fall back under the surge of hundreds of Viet Cong. Specialist Townsend noticed a wounded man who had been left behind and returned to the original perimeter line, under intense fire, to carry him back to safety. A few minutes later, an enemy recoilless rifle protected by a machine gun began to fire on the battalion command post. Specialist Townsend again advanced beyond the friendly lines through fields of intense fire until he was within hand grenade range of the hostile emplacement. He jumped to his feet in this bullet-swept area, in order to see the enemy position and destroyed both the recoilless rifle and its machine gun with a grenade. As he was moving back towards the perimeter, another machine gun began firing on the camp's perimeter. He moved around and behind this weapon and also destroyed it with a single grenade. After returning to the friendly perimeter, Specialist Townsend received shrapnel wounds in his left thigh and left arm. He ignored these wounds and continued to fight until the Viet Cong had been decisively repulsed. Specialist Four Townsend'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. 4153 (August 15, 1967)
  

Trent, Herman L.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Herman L. Trent, First 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, 506th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). First Sergeant Trent distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 July 1968 while serving s First Sergeant and platoon leader of an infantry company on combat operations near Cu Chi. As his unit was crossing a rice paddy, it came under heavy fire from well entrenched North Vietnamese troops. Sergeant Trent immediately organized his platoon and began returning fire on the enemy positions. Realizing that the machine gun positions would have to be destroyed before they could advance, he ordered the platoon to pull back with the wounded and regroup with the main body of the company. Remaining behind, Sergeant Trent then moved through the fusillade with three other men and annihilated several enemy positions with hand grenades. Using his radio, he called in air strikes from a site less than fifty meters from the targets. He then entered a destroyed hostile bunker and remained in it for six hours, directing the ordinance nearly on top of his position. When he noticed that some of the better camouflaged emplacements remained untouched by the air strikes, he crawled through a nearby hedgerow and down the line of enemy bunkers, killing three snipers. As darkness fell the North Vietnamese fire ceased. Returning to the rice paddy, he discovered a member of this company who was seriously wounded and carried him more than four hundred meters to the unit’s night defensive positions. First Sergeant Trent’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. 150 (January 14, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Patrick M. Trinkle, 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 A, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry, 11th Brigade, Americal Division. Captain Trinkle distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 23 February 1968 as commanding officer of an infantry company on a search and clear mission near My Lai. While moving through a low, wooded area, his troops were savagely attacked by a well-entrenched, numerically superior enemy force firing automatic weapons, recoilless rifles and mortars. Braving a hail of fire, Captain Trinkle called for air and artillery strikes and helicopter gunship support. Wounded in the leg, he continued to expose himself to the ravaging barrage and adjusted artillery on the attackers while a medic briefly treated his injury. With bullets striking all around him as he moved among his men to direct the attack, he was seriously wounded by Viet Cong sniper fire. Seeing one of his men wounded and trapped in the open, he began moving across the open ground to his aid. A sniper directed intense fire at him, and Captain Trinkle altered his course, moved through a curtain of fire and killed the insurgent with a grenade. He then carried the wounded soldier to safety. He was told to move to an evacuation point for treatment of his wounds but refused and fearlessly directed the attack in which his men overran the enemy positions. Finally ordered to leave the battle area, he continued to direct his men by radio during treatment. His gallant actions in the heat of battle inspired his men to fight furiously and overwhelm the determined hostile forces. Captain Trinkle'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. 2717 (June 6, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gary L. Tucker, 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, 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Tucker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 December 1968 while serving as platoon leader during a cordon-and-search operation north of An Loc near the village of Ap Charac. As his force neared the hamlet, the enemy opened fire with small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenades. Lieutenant Tucker immediately coordinated a counter attack, killing three enemy soldiers while his men overran five hostile bunkers. He then maneuvered his platoon to the assistance of another element. En route, one of his track vehicles detonated a mine. He quickly ran to the aid of the wounded men, ensuring their evacuation and care. When a machine gunner was struck by grenade fragmentation, Lieutenant Tucker pulled the injured man from his vehicle and carried him to safety. Returning to his platoon, he repaired a malfunctioning machine gun. Throughout the battle, he continued to evacuate casualties, repair jammed weapons, distribute ammunition, and constantly exposed himself to the hostile barrage. He conducted the final sweep through the communist position and was responsible for killing one soldier and capturing another. He then called in air strikes to completely destroy the enemy force. First Lieutenant Tucker’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.