Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2385 (May 20, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leonard Louis Alvarado, 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, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Specialist Four Alvarado distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 August 1969 while serving as a rifleman during a mission to relieve a beleaguered sister platoon in Phuoc Long Province. As he and other members of the small reaction force moved through dense jungle, Specialist Alvarado detected enemy movement and opened fire. Despite his quick reaction, he and his comrades were quickly pinned down by the hostile force that blocked the path to the trapped platoon. Specialist Alvarado quickly moved forward through the hostile machine gun fire in order to engage the enemy troops. Suddenly an enemy grenade exploded nearby, wounding and momentarily stunning him. Retaliating immediately, he killed the grenadier just as another enemy barrage wounded him again. He crawled forward through the fusillade to pull several comrades back within the hastily-formed perimeter. Realizing that his element must break away from the hostile force, he began maneuvering forward alone. Though repeatedly thrown to the ground by exploding satchel charges, he continued advancing and firing, silencing several emplacements, including one enemy machine gun position. From his dangerous forward position, he persistently laid suppressive fire on the hostile forces, and after the enemy troops had broken contact, his comrades discovered that he had succumbed to his wounds. Specialist Four Alvarado's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3942 (October 23, 1969)
  

Ames, Lawrence J.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lawrence J. Ames, 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 17, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Ames distinguished himself while serving as Operations/Intelligence Advisor, Tra Bong District, Quang Nai Province. During the early morning hours of 8 September 1970, the Tra Bong District Headquarters came under intense enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and motor attack. Sergeant Ames and his teammates in the sleeping quarters responded immediately to the initial trust of the assault by maneuvering quickly to a bunker along the compound's perimeter. Upon reaching the entrenchment, Sergeant Ames observed that many of his comrades had sustained injuries and were without medical supplies. Despite the peril presented by impacting motor rounds in the vicinity of the team house, Sergeant Ames raced to his quarters to secure an emergency first aid kit, returning to the bunker amid a hail of bullets. After assuring that the wounded would be cared for, Sergeant Ames learned that the unit's radioman had been knocked from his feet in a blast and was forced to abandon the transmitter due to the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at him. Without hesitation, the sergeant exposed himself to volleys of enemy motor rounds and small arms bullets as he sprinted to the area in which the radio had been dropped. Sergeant Ames was unsuccessful in his search and was forced to return to the bunker. Realizing the dire necessity for the establishment of radio communications, Sergeant Ames once again ventured from the security of the entrenchment to locate the transmitter. Ignoring the myriad motor rounds falling around him, the sergeant searched the fire swept area and returned to the safety of the bunker only when he had possession of the radio. The blast had damaged a vital part of the transmitter, rendering it inoperable. Undaunted, Sergeant Ames raced from his secure position to the team house and retrieved the necessary electronic component. At this point the battle reached its crescendo. Every officer in the unit had been incapacitated by wounds, leaving the men without leadership. Sergeant Ames immediately took charge of the faltering troops and through his intrepid example, inspired his beleaguered comrades to rally and overcome the foe, forcing the enemy to retreat. Sergeant Ames' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 129 (January 14, 1971)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Anagnosotopoulos, Private 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Private First Class Anagnosotopoulos distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 February 1968 while serving as a company medic during a search and destroy operation southwest of Kontum City. Contact was made with a North Vietnamese Army company, and several members of his unit's lead element were wounded in the first moments of the ensuing fire fight. Despite heavy concentrations of automatic weapons fire, Private Anagnosotopoulos raced across one hundred and fifty meters of open terrain to treat his wounded comrades. After pulling a seriously injured platoon leader to cover and giving him first aid, he moved forward to three casualties who were within ten meters of an enemy machine gun. As he worked on the wounded the North Vietnamese machine gunner raised up and began firing on his position. Private Anagnosotopoulos killed the enemy soldier with his pistol. He then completed giving aid to the three men and also treated two new casualties amid hostile sniper fire and hand grenades directed against him. He next organized the evacuation of his patients to a helicopter landing zone, personally carrying three of the wounded through the continuing enemy fire. When heavy fighting erupted a second time, Private Anagnosotopoulos rushed across one hundred meters of exposed land and aided in the rescue of five more wounded comrades. Private First Class Anagnosotopoulos' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4758 (October 14, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Anthony C. Anderson, 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, attached to the United States Army Vietnam Training Advisory Group (TF1AE), U.S. Army Vietnam Training Support Headquarters. Sergeant Anderson distinguished himself on 7 August 1971 while serving as the assistant leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy territory. On that date, his small team came under assault by enemy heavy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire. Sergeant Anderson returned such a volume of M-60 machine gun fire that he single-handedly drove the assaulting enemy force back. While the enemy was regrouping, he quickly placed his team members in strategic locations to ward off the inevitable attack. During the ensuing battle, he expertly directed his portion of the team in returning heavy suppressive fire while he returned a deadly volume of machine gun fire himself. He then returned a heavy barrage of hand grenade fire upon the advancing enemy force in an attempt to repel their assault. As the enemy force threw hand grenades at his position, Sergeant Anderson began picking the grenades up and throwing them back. Although wounded by an enemy grenade, he led his portion of the team in returning a volume of fire upon the enemy force, successfully gaining fire superiority and driving them back once again. When his team leader had been fatally wounded, Sergeant Anderson assumed command of the team and ordered them to prepare for extraction, providing them with heavy cover fire. With the aid of air strikes, the small team successfully suppressed the heavy enemy fire to sporadic shots. Sergeant Anderson then remained on the ground providing the extraction craft and the remainder of the team with heavy cover fire before he himself was extracted. His bravery and expert leadership abilities were directly responsible for repelling the repeated enemy assaults and preventing the enemy force from overrunning his entire team. Sergeant Anderson's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3395 (November 30, 1971)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kenneth Soares Andrade, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 3d Battalion, 12th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Platoon Sergeant Andrade distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 February 1968 as acting platoon leader during an attack on his unit's perimeter near Dak To. While providing defense for the battalion fire base, his unit was subjected to a savage ground assault by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Sergeant Andrade exposed himself to deadly automatic weapons, grenade and small arms fire and moved around his perimeter shouting commands, pointing out targets and giving words of encouragement to his men. As he rose to move one of the more seriously wounded men to the ambulance helicopter landing zone, an enemy grenade landed near him. Sergeant Andrade picked up the grenade and threw it back at several enemy soldiers who were firing from behind a large tree to his front. He then picked up the wounded man and carried him across the perimeter to the landing zone under a hail of bullets. As he returned to the fight, a grenade exploded nearby, mortally wounding him. His valiant and selfless leadership inspired his men to greater efforts and they defeated the determined enemy. Platoon Sergeant Andrade's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2874 (June 17, 1968)
  

Archibald, Robert S.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert S. Archibald, 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, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light). Specialist Four Archibald distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 31 January 1968 as radio telephone operator of an infantry unit on a combat mission near Ho Nai. When a long range reconnaissance patrol sighted a large enemy force moving toward his brigade's base camp, Specialist Archibald's unit moved to engage the Viet Cong. A raging battle ensured, and his force was greatly outnumbered. Fighting furiously, the friendly forces pushed the Viet Cong back. Specialist Archibald and two comrades had just crossed a cemetery when enemy elements attacked from a position in open graves. Disregarding his personal safety, he moved from the security of a ditch and took up a position behind a partially destroyed pillar. Calling for grenades from his comrades, he stepped into the open and threw one at the enemy position delivering the heaviest fire. The insurgents threw them back, and it exploded nearby. After throwing two more grenades and having them thrown back, he charged the open grave and killed four insurgents with deadly fire. The Viet Cong concentrated a withering barrage on him, but he fearlessly and methodically moved through the cemetery and routed the enemy from their positions. Braving a hail of fire, he personally killed twelve Viet Cong with accurate bursts from his weapon. His fearless actions were instrumental in overwhelming the insurgents and forcing them to withdraw. Specialist Four Archibald's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2691 (June 5, 1968)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dixon G. Arment, 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. On 5 October 1965, Specialist Arment was accompanying his unit, Company A, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade, on a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. The battalion soon came under a heavy insurgent attack and Specialist Arment's platoon was given the mission of making a flanking assault to destroy several hostile machine gun emplacements which were directing extremely accurate fire into the battalion positions. As the platoon maneuvered forward, it was subjected to a deadly hail of Viet Cong automatic weapons fire which split the friendly force into two separate groups. As the battle raged on, Specialist Arment's small group fought to within close range of the insurgent trenches and observed that a contingent of Viet Cong reinforcements were moving into the area. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Arment quickly charged into the midst of the advancing hostile force, despite a murderous barrage of grenades and automatic weapons fire which immediately engulfed him, and continued to move forward to within inches of the insurgent machine guns, killing seven insurgents and completely disrupting the Viet Cong's reinforcement attempt. Notwithstanding the fact that he was wounded by a burst of hostile fire which hit him in the face, Specialist Arment continued to place devastating fire upon the insurgents until he was ordered to the rear for medical treatment. Despite painful wounds, he returned again and again to the battle area, carrying ammunition and aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel. Specialist Arment's extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.

• 
  HQ US Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 45 (February 28, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lester Armstrong, 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, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Sergeant Armstrong distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 November 1966 while serving as squad leader of a unit during a search and destroy mission near Tay Ninh. While moving forward to augment the fire of another American unit, his platoon became pinned down by the fire of a Viet Cong machine gun emplacement. As the platoon maneuvered, six insurgents flanked them and stopped their assault. At this time, with complete disregard for his personal safety, Sergeant Armstrong grabbed a machine gun and charged directly into the intense hostile fire. Although wounded, he increased his fire and killed the six protecting the bunker. He then attacked the machine gun bunker, killing three insurgents. Through his courage, his unit advanced without further casualties. Sergeant Armstrong's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6880 (December 16, 1966)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert E. Armstrong, 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, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Armstrong distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 March 1959 while serving as a radio-telephone operator during a combat sweep operation south of Hill 947 near Polei Kleng in Kontum Province. While making assessments of friendly air strikes in the area, Specialist Armstrong's platoon came under attack from a North Vietnamese force using grenades, rifles and rockets. Realizing that the enemy had surrounded the platoon, the Company Commander set up a hasty perimeter. Suddenly a rocket hit the command post directly, killing or wounding all the officers and noncommissioned officers. Although wounded himself, Specialist Armstrong took charge of the element, reorganizing defensive positions and setting up aid for casualties. He then established radio contact with the battalion operations center and guided in artillery and air support. When two other platoons from his unit came to relieve the beleaguered element, Specialist Armstrong directed them against the weakest of the enemy's positions. With coordinated efforts, the two platoons broke through the encircling hostile force to reinforce Specialist Armstrong's perimeter. With the threat of being overrun reduced, Specialist Armstrong proceeded to carry the wounded to the temporary landing zone. Braving the heavy fire again and again, he led parties to the evacuation site, and only after all the other wounded were extracted did he allow himself to be treated for his wounds. Specialist Four Armstrong's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3905 (October 18, 1969)
  

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles E. Aronhalt, Jr., First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Aronhalt distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 May 1967 while serving as platoon leader during a search and destroy mission in Pleiku Province. When another platoon of his company received devastating fire, Lieutenant Aronhalt requested that his platoon be sent to aid the stricken unit. As he led his men forward, however, the entire company began receiving intense fire from numerous concealed positions. Lieutenant Aronhalt tried to pull his men back, but they were unable to leave their cover. Since the platoon couldn't maneuver in any direction, he positioned his machine guns to strengthen the unit's defensive posture. He tried to form a perimeter, but was prevented by the hostile fire sweeping his positions. Seeing several wounded men, Lieutenant Aronhalt again tried to move his men forward. Unable to do this, he personally fought his way through the intense crossfire and began pulling the wounded to safety. He repeatedly entered the exposed area and fought his way out with wounded men over his shoulder. Seeing that casualties were mounting faster than he could carry them out, he stood up and charged the insurgents alone. His rifle jammed as he ran, but he picked up a machine gun and continued charging and firing steadily to give his men a chance to withdraw. Lieutenant Aronhalt was mortally wounded in the successful attempt at drawing the fire from his men. His valiant actions prevented the Viet Cong from taking the lime of any one of his men. First Lieutenant Aronhalt's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3832 (July 27, 1967)
  

*Arsenault, Richard Roland

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard Roland Arsenault, 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 Advisory Team, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Arsenault distinguished himself on 26 May 1972 while serving as the Operations/Intelligence advisor on a combat operation with the 12th Regional Force Group in Duc Hue District, Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam. As the 12th Group moved to link up with a friendly unit, an entrenched company size enemy force prepared to initiate an ambush. At the last moment Sergeant Arsenault sensed the ambush and saw a B-40 rocket being fired. He shouted a warning, knocked another American advisor aside and blocked the B-40 round with his body, deliberately sacrificing his life to save the lives of those around him. His heroic and selfless action unquestionably saved the life of the other American advisor and their interpreter and also preserved the 12th Group command element. By saving the command structure from destruction, he made a swift reaction to the ambush possible and prevented it from becoming a disaster. Staff Sergeant Arsenault's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1633 (July 24, 1972)
  

*Bahl, Walter Timothy

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Walter Timothy Bahl, 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, 2d Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 December 1968 as a medic on a reconnaissance-in-force mission northeast of Quan Loi. His company made contact with an estimated battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force located in well concealed positions and armed with automatic and semi-automatic weapons, rockets and mortars. Specialist Bahl immediately went to the aid of his comrades and, after evacuating all of the injured members of his element to a medical evacuation site, rushed to the platoon which was engaged in treating and carrying them to the evacuation point, the waist-high grass in which several of the casualties lay was ignited by the constant enemy barrage. Working feverishly, he rescued the men and then used his shirt to beat out the fire before he was forced back by the spreading flames, suffering burns and near exhaustion. Hearing a cry for a medic, he again risked the weathering hostile fire to reach the stricken soldier. He was painfully wounded by an enemy grenade as he started to render medical aid, but fearlessly began to pull the man to safety. Although wounded a second time, he still continued his attempt to remove his comrade until he was struck a third time by the hostile fusillade and was mortally wounded. Specialist Four Bahl'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.