Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2333 (October 3, 1972)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Raymond F. Waite, 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 Troop D, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Sergeant Waite distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 April 1972 while serving as gunner for a Light Observation Helicopter, involved in rescue operations of besieged friendly forces near An Loc, Republic of Vietnam. The small friendly element was surrounded by a battalion-size enemy force augmented with anti-aircraft weapons that claimed one man's life the day before. As the helicopter in which he was flying approached the friendly element, American gunships began putting suppressive fire onto the enemy machine-gun and anti-aircraft positions. Despite the firepower massed against them, the enemy continued to direct intensive fire at the rescue ship. Upon reaching the friendly position, Sergeant Waite dismounted the aircraft to assist a wounded American advisor aboard, even though the enemy was directing intensive machine-gun fire at their position. After returning to the aircraft, he provided the only secure grasp to keep another American advisor, who was precariously hanging outside the aircraft, from falling to his death during the arduous low-level flight to a safe area following the extraction. Even though it took numerous hits, his aircraft carried 3 American advisors and 4 ARVN personnel to safety. Sergeant Waite'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, MACV Support Command General Order No. 1674 (July 29, 1972)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Darrell Edward Walden, 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 A, 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Walden distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 April 1969 as squad leader on a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Tam Dinh. While sweeping through a section of rice paddies, his company encountered a heavily booby-trapped area. Although his squad successfully eliminated several of the dangerous devices, Sergeant Walden fell victim to a rigged hand grenade. As his men rushed to his aid, he suddenly detected the presence of a booby-trapped mortar round. Realizing that the insidious booby trap would destroy the majority of his squad, he saved the lives of his men at the sacrifice of his own by throwing himself on the mortar shell at the moment it exploded. Sergeant Walden'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. 2021 (June 9, 1969)
  

Walden, Jerry T.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jerry T. Walden, 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, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). First Lieutenant Walden distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 May 1969 while serving as a platoon leader during a company assault on Dong Ap Bia Mountain near the A Shau Valley. During the initial moments of the assault, the company's commanding officer was critically wounded. Lieutenant Walden assumed command and continued the assault on the mountain. During the ensuing battle, Lieutenant Walden's company took control of the mountain top, but in the process they suffered fifty per cent casualties including Lieutenant Walden who was wounded in the leg by shrapnel. Still under intense fire from enemy bunkers located near the top of the mountain, Lieutenant Walden took several hand grenades and assaulted the enemy positions. After knocking out four bunkers, he was seriously wounded by an enemy grenade thrown from another bunker. Undaunted by his wounds, Lieutenant Walden assessed his company's dwindling ammunition supply and their exposed position and ordered a withdrawal. As he was pulling back with the last squad, the radio operator was seriously wounded in the arm by sniper fire. Lieutenant Walden crawled down the remainder of the hill and pulled the wounded radio operator to cover. Realizing that he was the company's only remaining officer, he refused evacuation until a replacement arrived. Lieutenant Walden'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. 1942 (June 21, 1970)
  

(First Award)

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Adelbert F. Waldron, 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, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Sergeant Waldron distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 16 January 1969 to 4 February 1969. His extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1068 (1969)
  

Waldron, Adelbert F.

(Second Award)

Synopsis:

The Distinguished Service Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is presented to Adelbert F. Waldron, 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, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Sergeant Waldron distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 5 February 1969 to 29 March 1969. His extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2904 (1969)
  

Waldrop, Andrew H., Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Andrew H. Waldrop, Jr., 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 Advisory Team 87, U.S. Advisory Group, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Waldrop distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 November 1969 while serving as advisor to a Vietnamese artillery battery. That afternoon, he and three other advisors were driving two jeeps to Phan Thief in order to obtain supplies for their battery. As the soldiers rounded a sharp curve on Highway QL1 in their jeeps, they encountered approximately thirty North Vietnamese soldiers moving in columns along both sides of the road. Sergeant Waldrop, who was riding shotgun in the lead jeep, began firing immediately on the enemy troops with his canister-loaded M-79 grenade launcher. Noticing that two of the enemy were closing in on the second jeep and preparing to fire on it, Sergeant Waldrop spun round in his vehicle as it passed the two soldiers and killed both of them with one well placed round with his weapon. By now the surprised enemy troops had taken up defensive positions on both sides of the road and were retaliating on the moving jeeps with automatic weapons fire. Although hit by enemy fire in the lower abdomen and right side, Sergeant Waldrop continued firing on the enemy troops with devastating accuracy. As the two vehicles sped through the middle of the enemy positions, the driver of Sergeant Waldrop’s jeep was critically wounded by enemy fire. Sergeant Waldrop quickly put down his weapon and took control of the jeep, holding the wounded driver in with one hand and driving the speeding jeep out of the kill zone with the other hand. Sergeant First Class Waldrop'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. 546 (February 26, 1970)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Billy B. Walkabout, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company F, 58th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Sergeant Walkabout (then Specialist Four) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 November 1968 during a long range reconnaissance patrol southwest of Hue. After successfully ambushing an enemy squad on a jungle trail, the friendly patrol radioed for immediate helicopter extraction. When the extraction helicopters arrived and the lead man began moving toward the pick-up zone, he was seriously wounded by hostile automatic weapons fire. Sergeant Walkabout quickly rose to his feet and delivered steady suppressive fire on the attackers while other team members pulled the wounded man back to their ranks. Sergeant Walkabout then administered first aid to the solider in preparation for medical evacuation. As the man was being loaded onto the evacuation helicopter, enemy elements again attacked the team. Maneuvering under heavy fire, Sergeant Walkabout positioned himself where the enemy were concentrating their assault and placed continuous rifle fire on the adversary. A command-detonated mine ripped through the friendly team, instantly killing three men and wounding all the others. Although stunned and wounded by the blast, Sergeant Walkabout rushed from man to man administering first aid, bandaging one soldier’s severe chest wound and reviving another soldier by heart massage. He then coordinated gunship and tactical air strikes on the enemy’s positions. When evacuation helicopters arrived again, he worked single-handedly under fire to board his disabled comrades. Only when the casualties had been evacuated and friendly reinforcements had arrived, did he allow himself to be extracted. Sergeant Walkabout’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. 3945 (1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dennis K. Walker, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism on 10 May 1970 while serving as a rifleman with Company D, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Sergeant Walker's company was involved in a reconnaissance mission, when suddenly the company was engaged and pinned down by heavy enemy mortar, rocket, and small arms fire. Sergeant Walker's element and the command element were pinned down and isolated from the main body of the company. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Walker repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire as he assaulted enemy bunkers on five different occasions. During the battle, Sergeant Walker hurled grenades and directed fire at the bunker apertures. Although wounded in one of his assaults, his pace never slowed as he took charge of his element, directing their fire into the enemy positions. Seeing that the enemy was set back by his assaults, Sergeant Walker organized a landing zone for evacuation helicopters to evacuate wounded personnel. When the enemy rallied and placed intensive fire on the helicopters, he again assaulted the bunker complex exhausting his ammunition into their positions. He then returned to his position and rallied his men, leading them to the company's main body. Sergeant Walker'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. 5 (February 25, 1971)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank J. Walker, 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 Company B, 299th Engineer Battalion, 937th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade. Staff Sergeant Walker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 November 1967 while serving with an engineer platoon on a bridge repair mission in Kontum Province. Sergeant Walker's convoy was moving along the highway toward the damaged bridge when a large Viet Cong force released a savage ambush which destroyed his vehicle. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he leaped from the wrecked truck into a hail of bullets and charged an enemy machine gun which was placing devastating fire on his men. Unleashing a fierce rifle fire and grenade barrage on the attackers, he succeeded in silencing the gun and enabled part of the convoy to move out of the killing zone. When the machine gun began firing again, he fearlessly charged the position and silenced the gunners once more with hand grenades. This action enabled a fellow sergeant to direct the remaining vehicles to safety. Continually risking his life in the face of brutal enemy fire, he returned alone to his damaged vehicle to re-supply himself with ammunition. Once again, machine gun fire struck all around him. Despite exploding grenades and the ravaging barrage, he personally assaulted the hostile position for the third time and permanently destroyed it with intense fire. His gallant actions in the face of overwhelming odds were responsible for saving numerous lives and disrupting the force of the Viet Cong attack. Staff Sergeant Walker'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. 181 (January 15, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert H. Walker, 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 E, 2d Battalion, 39th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Walker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 17 March 1969 while second in command of a volunteer night raiding team operating in Dinh Tuong Province. Upon landing, the twelve-man team was pinned down by hostile machine gun fire which immediately killed the team leader and the radio-telephone operator. Assuming command, Lieutenant Walker led the men away from the grazing fire to safety. Then, as the element approached the target, a known Viet Cong assembly area, a hail of enemy bullets burst from twin bunker fortifications. While his men fired upon the enemy, Lieutenant Walker crawled forward and destroyed the emplacements with two hand grenades. Once routed, the insurgents, combined with enemy reinforcements, managed to surround the team. A fierce battle ensued, during which the command-and-control helicopter arrived and established a link with the imperiled team. With aid from gun ships, half the team succeeded in breaking free from the encircled enemy and laid suppressive fire while the remainder of the team escaped to join them. The consolidated element quickly formed a circular defensive perimeter. Seeing at this time that the Viet Cong were about to claim the remains of the two soldiers killed in the initial attack, Lieutenant Walker directed his men to drive the enemy away while he crawled outside the perimeter to save both bodies, as well as their equipment. After he returned to the perimeter, the raiding team valiantly repulsed a final assault by two enemy squads. Lieutenant Walker personally stopped three assailants who charged within hand grenade range. When the team moved out to rendezvous with the extraction helicopter, he volunteered to act as the rear security guard. Several times his marksmanship foiled attempts to cut the team off. While finally being evacuated, he continued to engage the enemy with deadly accuracy as the helicopter lifted to safety. First Lieutenant Walker’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. 2023 (June 9, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Wesley F. Walker, 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 on 11 July 1972. First Lieutenant Walker'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. 47 (October 2, 1974)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Wayman Walker, 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 Detachment B-33, Company A, 5th Special Forces (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Captain Walker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 August 1970. 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. 4465 (September 21, 1970)
  

Wall, Lee O.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lee O. Wall, 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, 2d Infantry (Mechanized), 1st Infantry Division. Sergeant Wall distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 October 1968 as a squad leader at a night defensive position occupied by two platoons in the village of Tam Binh. When the camp came under heavy mortar, rocket-propelled grenade and recoilless rifle fire, Sergeant Wall exposed himself to the fusillade to make sure the men of his platoon wee under cover and prepared for a ground attack, and then returned to his armored personnel carrier to direct a barrage at the enemy positions. His track was struck by rocket-propelled grenade and recoilless rifle fire, seriously wounding the machine gunner and causing Sergeant Wall to lose his hearing from the concussion for the remainder of the night. Sergeant Wall and a medic carried the wounded gunner over one hundred meters through the hostile small arms and mortar fire to the aid station. Although Sergeant Wall was wounded in the knee and knocked to the ground by an exploding mortar, he again braved the fusillade to find three more casualties and bring them to the aid station. While he was moving toward an armored personnel carrier which was receiving intense enemy fire, two communists broke through the defensive wire and attempted to mount the besieged track. Sergeant Wall killed them with a burst of machine gun fire and, firing all of his ammunition and throwing grenades, drove back the aggressors who were charging through the break in the wire. After checking his troops' positions, he manned a bunker and directed devastating fire until the enemy began to withdraw. He then organized litter parties and assisted in loading the wounded onto the ambulance helicopters. Sergeant Wall'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. 897 (March 14, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Casey Owen Waller, 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 E, 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry (Airmobile). Specialist Four Waller distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 April 1970 while Fire Support Base Illingsworth against an enemy attack in Tay Ninh Province. Following an intense barrage of hostile rocket and mortar fire, the enemy launched an aggressive ground assault on the allied base camp. Specialist Waller immediately left the relative security of his bunker to engage the enemy with his rifle and hand grenades as they approached the base camp perimeter. As the battle raged on, the specialist's weapons malfunctioned and his supply of grenades was exhausted. Refusing to withdraw, he remained on station and continued to resist the enemy utilizing hand-to-hand combat. When a nearby artillery ammunition storage area caught fire, Specialist Waller again refused to withdraw to a more secure position. As he continued his determined fight against the onrushing enemy, the nearby ammunition exploded and mortally wounded him. Specialist Four Waller'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. 4335 (September 15, 1970)
  

Wallin, Dennis G.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dennis G. Wallin, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force during the period 23 April to 26 April 1972, while serving as Deputy Senior Advisor to the 9th Airborne Battalion, Airborne Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 April the North Vietnamese Army launched a vicious attack with tanks and infantry supported by artillery and rockets. The momentum of their attack collapsed the Tan Canh defenses resulting in the capture of the vital road networks south and east of Tan Canh. This action forced the 9th Airborne Battalion to withdraw, leaving the 92d Company surrounded by enemy forces in the rugged mountainous area northwest of Tan Canh, Dak To Province. The 92d Company was under heavy small arms fire from all sides in addition to constant artillery and mortar fires. Beyond the range of friendly artillery fires, Captain Wallin immediately requested aerial rocket artillery gun ships to suppress enemy fires. Captain Wallin then dashed through intense fires to reach a position to observe and guide the fires of the gun ships. As the gun ships poured rockets and machine gun fire on the enemy position, Captain Wallin again exposed himself to the murderous fire to gain dominant observation of other portions of the perimeter. Frequently Captain Wallin's exposed positions were spattered with shrapnel and dirt as he called for aerial rocket artillery fires within twenty-five meters of the perimeter. Many times during the three-day ordeal, Captain Wallin was credited by the Vietnamese soldiers with decimating the ranks of enemy soldiers with gun ship fires, thus enabling the unit to move to new locations. During these moves, Captain Wallin remained with the point elements to adjust air strikes and gun ships supporting the withdrawal. In addition to his brilliant use of helicopter gun ships and tactical air support, Captain Wallin was a constant source of strength to his counterpart in planning their attacks, moves, defense, and infiltration through enemy territory to safety. The successful extraction of the South Vietnamese force, with all of its wounded and most of its equipment, must be largely credited to Captain Wallin's professional and continued use of air assets, his decisive and forceful leadership, personal courage and determination to survive. Captain Wallin's extraordinary heroism, devotion to duty and conspicuous gallantry under fire are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him and the United States Army.