Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Order No. 608 (February 20, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Enrique C. Cruz, 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 Troop B, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. On 30 June 1966, Staff Sergeant Cruz was serving as a track commander of the last vehicle in a column movement during a search and destroy mission along Highway 13. When his unit received intense hostile fire from a Viet Cong regiment, Staff Sergeant Cruz observed that the insurgents were closing in from the rear in an attempt to cut off the column. He immediately swung his track around and delivered suppressive fire onto the attacking Viet Cong. For more than an hour, he prevented the insurgent force from breaching the rear of the column. When a nearby tank was hit by hostile fire which killed the tank commander and wounded the three crew members, Staff Sergeant Cruz, with complete disregard for his safety, rushed to the burning tank, pulled out all three stricken crewmen, and carried them to the cover of his armored personnel carrier. He then administered first aid to his wounded comrades and took them to the evacuation area. Although he was wounded while pulling the wounded soldiers from the vehicle, Staff Sergeant Cruz refused to be evacuated. Instead, he re-supplied his carrier with ammunition and returned to the front of the battle area to provide covering fire for the evacuation of the wounded. When his machine gun barrel melted due to the intense rate of fire, he jumped from his tank and secured another weapon from a disabled carrier. He refused to be evacuated when wounded a second time. When the Viet Cong fire subsided, Staff Sergeant Cruz maneuvered his vehicle to the rear and evacuated his wounded comrades. He then re-supplied his track with ammunition, returned to the battle area, and remained there until the end of the engagement. Staff Sergeant Cruz'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. 5937 (October 6, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Allen Ross Culpepper, Captain (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 Battery C, 7th Battalion, 9th Artillery, 54th Field Artillery Group. Captain Culpepper distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 May 1969 while serving as commander of a 105 millimeter howitzer battery. Soon after midnight a Viet Cong force launched a mortar and rocket attack, followed by a ground assault on the perimeter. Without hesitation, Captain Culpepper moved through the battery area to organize his troops. He quickly deployed a reaction force and directed the retaliatory fusillade of his men. When one of the howitzer emplacements was struck by rocket- propelled grenade fire wounding the section members, Captain Culpepper immediately proceeded to the damaged gun section to assist in removing the casualties. As he left his vehicle and heroically ran through the hostile barrage toward a wounded soldier, he was fatally wounded by enemy fire. Captain Culpepper'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. 2949 (August 4, 1969)
  

Cundiff, Brian H.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Brian H. Cundiff, 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, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Captain Cundiff distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 April 1967 while serving as company commander during an attack by a numerically superior Viet Cong force near Ap Gu. At 0500 hours the Viet Cong began a barrage of 400 mortar rounds on Captain Cundiff’s company. As the devastating shelling decreased, the insurgents launched a ferocious human wave attack which outnumbered the American battalion three to one. Wave after wave of insurgents penetrated the battalion with mortars, machine gun and rifle fire. Captain Cundiff, unrelenting to the overwhelming firepower of the enemy, engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat, killing six Viet Cong. Although he was wounded three times, he continued to fight and rally his force. He moved among his men and mustered and effective defense which finally succeeded in repelling the enemy. Still refusing medical aid, Captain Cundiff called for artillery support and air strikes, then commanded a massive counterattack that pushed the Viet Cong back into a barrage of artillery and deadly air strikes. Captain Cundiff’s inspiring leadership and dauntless courage were an inspiration to his men and led to one of the most decisive actions of the Viet Cong conflict. Captain Cundiff’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. 2395 (May 25, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John H. Cunningham, 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, 588th Engineer Battalion, 79th Engineer Group, 20th Engineer Brigade. Staff Sergeant Cunningham distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 February 1968 in the vicinity of Thien Ngon. His platoon was ambushed by an estimated company of Viet Cong occupying concealed positions on both sides of a road. Disregarding his safety, Sergeant Cunningham moved from position to position to direct his men's fire as the enemy troops began a ground assault. As the fire fight continued two of his three machine gunners were wounded, and Sergeant Cunningham held the attackers off by hurling hand grenades. When his troops ran low on ammunition, he exposed himself to a barrage of enemy bullets to re-supply them. The battle grew more intense and his platoon leader was killed. Sergeant Cunningham immediately took complete command of the unit, encouraging his men's defense and administering first aid to the injured. When the Viet Cong were finally driven back and contact was broken, he organized and supervised the evacuation of the wounded. Staff Sergeant Cunningham'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. 4522 (September 28, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Larry LaMont Cunningham, 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 F, 51st Infantry, II Field Force. Staff Sergeant Cunningham distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 December 1968. 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. 280 (1969)
  

*Curran, John Dehaas

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Dehaas Curran, Captain (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with A/227th Assault Helicopter Company, 52d Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Captain Curran distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 May 1971 while serving as co-pilot on an emergency medical evacuation mission near Dac To. His helicopter was embarked on a mission to rescue a seriously wounded survivor of a U.S. helicopter which had crashed the day before. This involved braving intense enemy anti-aircraft fire since an estimated two enemy regiments surrounded the besieged firebase. Captain Curran realized the enemy situation and strength, but his concern for the life of a fellow American soldier overshadowed this knowledge. It was further learned that two ARVN soldiers were also critically wounded and in dire need of medical evacuation. Captain Curran's aircraft proceeded through the hail of fire to the firebase and picked up the seriously wounded American as well as the allied soldiers. Upon departing the firebase, his helicopter received heavy enemy fire and lost its motor before it burst into flames and crashed. Captain Curran's personal bravery 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. 3411 (December 2, 1971)
  

Dabney, James F.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James F. Dabney, 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 D, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light). Captain Dabney distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action from 6 to 10 May 1968 in Quan Binh Chanh. On 6 May his company engaged a combined North Vietnamese Army / Viet Cong force. After four hours of combat, during which Captain Dabney repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to direct light fire team, artillery and air strike support, he led his company in an assault. Discovering a North Vietnamese mortar position, he charged the emplacement, killing two enemy soldiers with grenades and taking two prisoners. In the early morning hours of 7 May the perimeter of his company's night position was attached by a large enemy force. Moving to the edge of the perimeter Captain Dabney fearlessly adjusted air strikes to within fifty meters of his units position. He then directed a counteroffensive and sweep off the area. Another heavy engagement occurred on 9 May when Captain Dabney sprung an ambush on the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong, He moved among his men, encouraging them and directing their fire, and at one point personally manned a machine gun to kill three Viet Cong who were less than twenty-five meters from his position. By afternoon enemy soldiers were fleeing in all directions. During the rest of the afternoon and the next day Captain Dabney conducted a sweep of the area which crushed the remaining pockets of resistance. Captain Dabney'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. 4525 (September 28, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Bertrand Jahn Dacey, Captain (Armor), 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 Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Captain Dacey distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 April 1969 while flying a reconnaissance mission in a light observation helicopter seven miles southwest of Quan Loi in Tay Ninh Province. An Infantry company was pinned down by a North Vietnamese force, and another helicopter had proceeded to the conflict area but was shot down. Captain Dacey immediately flew to the battle site and began making low passes over the hostile force, marking them for air strikes. On his seventh pass, his aircraft was struck by a burst of machine gun fire and crashed in flames, killing him instantly. Captain Dacey'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. 2674 (July 17, 1969)
  

*Dahr, John Wesley

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Wesley Dahr, 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, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Dahr distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 January 1967 while serving with elements of the 27th Infantry on a search and destroy operation near Cu Chi. As the company advanced across an open ride paddy it came under intense fire from fortified Viet Cong positions to its front. Pinned down and unable to maneuver, the company sustained many casualties at the outset. Unmindful of the extreme peril, Specialist Dahr deliberately exposed himself to the hail of bullets and waded through the waist-deep water to assist a wounded comrade. Carrying the stricken soldier 100 meters across the ravaged paddy to safety, he dauntlessly repeated this gallant act two more times to save his fellow soldiers. Returning to the center of the battle, Specialist Dahr stationed himself behind a small dike. Spotting another wounded man lying exposed to the Viet Cong fire, he again left the cover of his position and trudged through the mud in the face of mounting danger. Unable to carry the stricken soldier alone, he stopped and called for assistance. With complete disregard for his safety, Specialist Dahr stood upright to hold his comrade above the water. In his fourth attempt to save another soldier, he was mortally wounded. Specialist Four Dahr'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. 464 (January 31, 1967)
  

Daly, Jerome R.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jerome R. Daly, Chief Warrant Officer (W-2), 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 121st Assault Helicopter Company, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Chief Warrant Officer Daly distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 March 1967 while serving as commander of a smoke dispersing helicopter during the rescue of three downed helicopter crews that were threatened by two Viet Cong battalions near Vinh Long. Three helicopters had been shot down in the contested landing zone and all rescue attempts had been thwarted by intense enemy fire from fortified emplacements in a treeline 100 meters from the aircraft. Although it was imperative to rescue the men before nightfall, ground armor reinforcing units were unable to reach the besieged men in time. It was decided that Warrant Officer Daly’s aircraft would place a smoke screen between the insurgents and the rescue aircraft. Although he knew that he would be required to fly less than 100 meters from a treeline which contained incredible Viet Cong firepower, he readily gave his consent to the plan. With the pickup aircraft right behind him, Warrant Officer Daly descended, flew in front of Viet Cong automatic weapons and concealed the rescue operation with thick smoke. Although the pickup operations were expected to last a very short time, the downed men were spread throughout the landing area and more evacuation aircraft were needed. Unhesitatingly, Warrant Officer Daly circled and once again placed a smoke screen while passing through the hail of enemy fire. By the time all of the men had been recovered from the field, he had placed himself before the enemy weapons twelve times. Although he and his crew escaped unscathed, his aircraft was so damaged that it was judged beyond repair. Chief Warrant Officer Daly’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. 3146 (June 25, 1967)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert G. Daniel, 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 B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Master Sergeant Daniel distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 16 March 1969 in the vicinity of Ben Het Special Forces Camp as operations sergeant of a mobile strike force company during an attempt to capture a hill held by a heavily armed, well-entrenched enemy force. While exposing himself to intense hostile automatic weapons and machine gun fire, Sergeant Daniel relayed valuable information to the battalion headquarters, called in gun ship strikes and secured a landing zone for re- supply. He then led an assault to secure a portion of the bunker complex, personally killing an enemy soldier. Shortly afterwards his company commander was killed and he took charge of the unit, leading it through the communists' fusillade until heavy enemy mortar fire threatened to pin his men down. Realizing that his company could be annihilated if the attack stalled because the enemy covered all avenues of escape, Sergeant Daniel single-handedly assaulted a bunker to the front. Although wounded by enemy grenades, he continued to advance. As he hurled grenades into the fortification, killing six communists, he was mortally wounded by small arms fire from another bunker. His men were inspired by his courage and succeeded in overrunning the remaining positions. Master Sergeant Daniel'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. 1421 (April 23, 1969)
  

Darnell, John E., Jr.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John E. Darnell, Jr., 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 C, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Staff Sergeant Darnell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 January 1968 as squad leader of an infantry company on a mission to evaluate the results of a friendly air strike in the Que Son Valley. As the company neared the top of a hill, its lead squad was pinned down by savage automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army unit occupying well concealed rock bunkers. Heedless of the hail of enemy bullets, Sergeant Darnell engaged the bunkers with a heavy and accurate barrage of shotgun fire. His fierce attack enabled the beleaguered troops to withdraw and evacuate their casualties. After carrying one of the wounded to safety, Sergeant Darnell organized a machine gun team and led it in a second assault on the entrenched enemy force. Hurling hand grenades and firing his shotgun, he killed at least two North Vietnamese and captured their weapons. His sudden, furious attack overwhelmed the hostile soldiers, and the team overran and captured the fortified positions. Learning that his company's second platoon was heavily engaged with another portion of the North Vietnamese unit, Sergeant Darnell unhesitantly maneuvered to its location and charged the insurgents, firing his shotgun until his ammunition was expended. He grabbed two automatic rifles from enemy soldiers he had killed and continued his aggressive assault. Raking the hostile positions with devastating fire, he forced most of the North Vietnamese to temporarily withdraw. Sergeant Darnell began to evacuate his wounded comrades, but the enemy quickly resumed his withering fusillade. Sergeant Darnell again picked up his two captured assault rifles and, with bullets striking all around him, charged the enemy bunker complex. He threw grenades and delivered deadly fire on the North Vietnamese until all members of the platoon had successfully withdrawn from the raging battle area. His gallant and determined actions in close combat saved the lives of many fellow soldiers and were responsible for an overwhelming victory. Staff Sergeant Darnell' 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. 2249 (May 14, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Milton C. Daugherty, 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 D, 3d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Captain Daugherty distinguished himself while serving as company commander west of Kontum City. On 5 March 1969 his unit came under a devastating barrage of intense and concentrated enemy mortar fire and was subsequently subjected to prolonged and vicious ground attacks by a North Vietnamese force. Although his beleaguered American force suffered heavy casualties, Captain Daugherty raced through areas receiving incoming rounds to direct and assist those sectors of his perimeter under the heaviest assault and in danger of being overrun. As the enemy shot round after round of mortar fire on the perimeter and concentrated on vulnerable defensive outposts, Captain Daugherty immediately crawled through shell-riddled areas to reach three severely wounded comrades. With one man in urgent need of medical attention, Captain Daugherty again braved the fusillade to drag the critical casualty and assist two other wounded comrades to safer areas. Twice more he returned to the outlying perimeter to direct counterfire and to carry wounded to safety. Captain Daugherty'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. 4372 (December 6, 1969)