Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Michael J. Williams, 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 A, 2d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). First Lieutenant Williams distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 July 1968 as a platoon leader during combat operations near Cu Chi. Lieutenant Williams' company was met by fierce small arms and machine gun fire as it was inserted by helicopter into an enemy-held area. Crossing seventy-five meters of bullet-swept rice paddy, he reached a hedgerow in which the majority of the hostile positions were concealed. He quickly silenced one machine gun with a hand grenade, and then crawled through the bushes, methodically destroying the communists' strongholds and killing the occupants. Despite receiving numerous fragmentation wounds in his legs from an enemy hand grenade, he stood up and charged a machine gun position which had his comrades pinned down. Completely exposing himself to the hostile fusillade, he tossed a grenade into the bunker's opening and used the fortification itself as a shield from the blast. After insuring that the machine gun had been rendered useless, he crawled into the open rice paddy and began moving back to his men, but was shot through both legs by the communists and again received fragmentation wounds in his legs from an enemy hand grenade. Realizing that he would be killed if he moved, Lieutenant Williams played dead for eight hours not more than twenty feet from the hostile positions. When darkness came he dragged himself more than three hundred meters back to his unit's night location. First Lieutenant Williams' 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. 489 (February 12, 1969)
  

*Williams, Ralph Leroy

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ralph Leroy Williams, 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 C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Williams distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 14 February 1968 as an infantry platoon leader while conducting a reconnaissance-in-force mission in enemy territory. The lead elements of his platoon were suddenly subjected to intense automatic weapons, small arms and recoilless rifle fire from heavily fortified North Vietnamese Army positions. Fearlessly exposing himself to the savage barrage, Lieutenant Williams rushed forward to reorganize his troops and evacuate casualties. While running to a farmhouse to assist a wounded platoon member, he was struck in the knee by enemy fire. He quickly treated his wound and began moving toward cover when he noticed that one of his machine gunners had been hit by tracer bullets, causing the soldier's clothing to burst into flames. Heedless of a raking curtain of hostile fire, Lieutenant Williams crawled across the bullet-swept terrain and removed the man's burning garments. Then, as he raised up to throw a smoke grenade at the North Vietnamese to screen the withdrawal of his troops, he was mortally wounded. First Lieutenant Williams' 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. 1800 (April 18, 1968)
  

Home Town: Billings, Montana

Williams, Robert R.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert R. Williams, 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 Aviation Brigade. Major General Williams distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 February 1968 as commander of a helicopter operating near Phu Loi. He was alerted to a mortar and rocket attack on Phu Loi installation and immediately flew to the site to aid in locating the enemy firing positions. Fully aware that there were no gunships available in the immediate area for fire support, General Williams unhesitantly began a search for the hostile emplacements and located two enemy rocket sites near the compound. He then skillfully maneuvered his aircraft in repeated firing passes on the weapons, and his door gunners destroyed both of them. Immediately after neutralizing the rocket positions, he monitored a call requesting medical evacuation for a seriously wounded American soldier. General Williams responded immediately and landed his aircraft amid enemy mortar fire on the besieged airfield. The casualty was loaded aboard and successfully evacuated to medical facilities at Long Binh. General Williams' outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his command, and the United States Army.

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  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 5139 (1968)
  

Williamson, Ellis W.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ellis W. Williamson, Brigadier General, 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 commanding the 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Brigadier General Williamson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on 9 November 1965, while directing military operations after a Viet Cong element of regimental size launched a vicious attack on personnel of the First Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry on the day before. When the friendly forces sustained heavy casualties after engaging wave upon wave of fanatical hostile troops, General Williamson directed the pilot of his aircraft to attempt a descent into a 250-foot funnel through a jungle canopy to evacuate the wounded and the dead. Although no other helicopter was able to negotiate the pass, a successful landing was made. Once upon the ground, General Williamson exposed himself to the hostile gun fire, made his way among the front line troops, and gave assistance and encouragement to both the wounded and the defenders. Lending his own aircraft to aid in the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield, he elected to remain in the combat zone and personally directed the further tactical deployment of the remaining units. His dynamic leadership, indomitable courage, and determination paved the way for the landing of evacuation helicopters, resulted in the removal of a great number of wounded and dead, and inspired the remaining troops with the spirit needed to achieve victory. General Williamson's extraordinary heroism on the battlefield and his profound concern for the individual soldier are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of his country.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 27 (June 27, 1966)
  

*Williamson, Robert Joe

Synopsis:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Joe Williamson, 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 100, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Sergeant Williamson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 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. 1172 (1968)
  

Home Town: Lawrenceburg, Indiana

*Wilson, Gerald Lee

Synopsis:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gerald Lee Wilson, 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 Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Staff Sergeant Wilson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 May 1969. 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. 2202 (June 23, 1969)
  

Home Town: Albany, Georgia

Wilson, Lee E.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lee E. Wilson, 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Mechanized), 47th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Wilson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as scout observer of a mechanized infantry unit conducting a combat operation in the village of Ho Nai. During its attack on the enemy-infested village, Specialist Wilson's platoon was subjected to intense hostile small arms, machine gun and rocket fire. When his armored personnel carrier came to a halt amid the savage crossfire of bullets and exploding rockets, Specialist Wilson leaped to the ground, fearlessly maneuvered to the rear of the enemy's positions and placed fierce fire on them. He determinedly pressed his personal assaults, continuously braving the relentless barrage of Viet Cong fire as he attacked. With complete disregard for his safety, Specialist Wilson repeatedly returned to his vehicle to procure additional ammunition when he had expended all that he could carry. One of his assaults was a gallant frontal attack on an enemy rocket position, which he destroyed with a light anti-tank weapon. Although seriously wounded by an insurgent's hand grenade during the charge, Specialist Wilson refused medical treatment and evacuation from the raging battlefield. Instead, he ran back to his armored vehicle, obtained more anti-tank rockets, returned to the fight, and eliminated another rocket position and a Viet Cong automatic rifle emplacement. His dauntless efforts in close combat contributed greatly to the defeat of the numerically superior enemy force. Specialist Four Wilson'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. 2270 (May 15, 1968)
  

*Wilson, Richard Lee

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Richard Lee Wilson, 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 Company C, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. Private First Class Wilson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 7 August 1969 during an airmobile operation. He was walking in the lead position for his squad as they cautiously pursued a path into a thick nipa palm growth bordering a river. When the lead elements had barely entered the vegetation, heavy automatic weapons fire erupted to Private Wilson's front. He spotted an enemy bunker through the dense foliage and immediately alerted his squad to its presence. The heavy volume of hostile fire prevented the friendly troops from advancing on the concealed enemy. Realizing the impossibility of employing grenades in the tall nipa palm, Private Wilson charged the hostile bunker, placing effective suppressive fire on the enemy as he ran. He had advanced to within ten feet of the hostile fortification when he was mortally wounded. His aggressive actions had enabled his fellow soldiers to move out of their exposed positions and then rout the enemy. Private First Class Wilson'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. 3649 (September 26, 1969)
  

Home Town: Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Winland, Floyd

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Floyd Winland, 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. Sergeant First Class Winland distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 5 April to 8 April 1972 while serving as an Infantry Light Weapons Advisor to the 52d Infantry Regimental Task Force, 18th Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Advisory Team 87. From 5 to 7 April the 52d Regimental Task Force was subjected to indirect enemy attacks on their firebases in Binh Long Province. On 7 April the enemy launched a determined ground attack on the beleaguered position. Sergeant Winland exposed himself to the withering enemy fire in order to move a critically wounded Vietnamese soldier to a position of safety and to administer first aid. While moving the wounded man, he sustained mortar fragment wounds in the leg. When the Task Force withdrew from the firebase, he assisted and encouraged the wounded soldiers, sharing his own limited water supply with those in need. When his Senior Battalion Liaison Officer and a number of Vietnamese soldiers became seriously wounded, Sergeant Winland remained in a dangerously exposed position to attempt an airlift of the wounded personnel although three attempts were repulsed by a fusillade of enemy ground fire. Over 300 enemy mortar rounds and rockets were directed against Sergeant Winland's position that day. Throughout the night he assisted the Senior Advisor in placing tactical air strikes and helicopter gunships to protect their position. The next morning he personally eliminated an attack by an enemy force to overrun their position and directed a larger enemy force into the defensive fire of an armed aircraft. While being extracted by aircraft, Sergeant Winland suffered numerous fragment wounds in the face and severe penetration wounds in both hands. His personal heroism was directly responsible for sparing numerous personnel from injury and possible death while inflicting numerous casualties on the enemy. Sergeant First Class Winland'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. 1637 (July 25, 1972)
  

*Winningham, Clifton

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clifton Winningham, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism on 5 March 1966 while serving as a member of the 1st Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry and engaged in military operations in the Republic of Vietnam. During a vicious assault by the Viet Cong, Platoon Sergeant Winningham displayed indomitable courage. When informed that a man stationed at a listening post was wounded and unable to return to the friendly lines, Platoon Sergeant Winningham attempted to reach the wounded man by crawling out of the perimeter but was stopped by hostile gun fire. He then rallied four men to follow behind him to cover his movement to the listening post. After they reached this position and found their comrade dead, he unhesitatingly volunteered to remain alone at the listening post to cover the return of the men with their deceased comrade. With complete disregard for his own safety, he remained at the post until the men reentered the friendly lines before proceeding behind them. As the hostile action intensified, he continued to encourage the men and to demonstrate his gallant efforts until felled by hostile gun fire. Platoon Sergeant Winningham's extraordinary heroism on the battlefield reflects great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the armed forces of his country.

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  Department of the Army, General Orders No. 45 (December 1, 1966)
  

Home Town: Junction City, Kansas

*Winston, Alvester Lee

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alvester Lee Winston, 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 A, 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Winston distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 December 1967 while serving as medical aidman of an infantry company on a search and destroy mission in enemy territory. The unit was patrolling a small river aboard armored troop carriers when it was suddenly subjected to intense fire from a Viet Cong force on the river banks. As Specialist Winston's platoon made a beach landing and began penetrating dense foliage, it was hit by another withering enemy barrage. The insurgents were firing rockets, automatic weapons and rifle grenades from well fortified bunkers and immediately pinned the friendly troops down. Hearing calls for medical aid from two comrades who fell fifty meters to his front, Specialist Winston raced through a savage curtain of fire to the injured soldiers. As he began treating their wounds, he was struck by an enemy sniper's bullet. Heedless of his won serious wound, he continued his lifesaving efforts even though he realized the Viet Cong had pinpointed his position. He was mortally wounded while valiantly shielding his patients from a raking fusillade. His dauntless courage in close combat inspired his fellow soldiers to overcome and completely annihilate the insurgent force. Specialist Four Winston'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. 1023 (March 7, 1968)
  

Home Town: Baltimore, Maryland

Wishik, Jeffrey

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jeffrey Wishik, 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 (Airborne), 187th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. First Lieutenant Wishik distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 and 19 March 1968 s a platoon leader during a reconnaissance-in-force mission conducted by his company and an attached reconnaissance platoon near Phuoc Vinh. The combined American forces engaged an estimated reinforced battalion of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army regulars. The fierce enemy onslaught of small arm, automatic weapon, claymore mine, and grenade fire inflicted heavy casualties on the point platoon, including the platoon leader. Charging through the storm of bullets, Lieutenant Wishik took command of the stricken lead element. While exposed to the hostile fire, he positioned the men and carried the wounded back to the defensive perimeter. Receiving the order to pull back, he directed an orderly withdrawal, and then began to lead a scouting party to secure a trail to a landing zone where the casualties could be evacuated. As they made their way to the site, the communists exploded a command detonated mine, injuring three members of the party and killing the others. As he staggered to his feet, bleeding profusely from multiple fragmentation wounds, Lieutenant Wishik was assaulted by six screaming enemy soldiers. Dropping to one knee, he switched his rifle to full automatic and shot the assailants with one long burst. Through the remainder of the long night the three survivors feigned death to avoid capture by hostile troops who passed within inches of their position. Just before dawn and shortly before they were rescued, a lone North Vietnamese Army regular came upon them. After rifling Lieutenant Wishik's body to obtain "C" rations, the soldier turned him over, sat on him and began to eat his food. With his last bit of strength, Lieutenant Wishik drew his survival knife and slit the throat of the intruder. First Lieutenant Wishik'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. 501 (February 13, 1969)
  

*Witherspoon, Thomas, Jr.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas Witherspoon, 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 Advisory Team 4, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Witherspoon distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 October 1967 while serving as village security force advisor of the Hai Lang District. While accompanying his commander to a meeting at the sector headquarters, they were savagely ambushed by a large Viet Cong force firing automatic weapons from well-concealed positions twenty meters from the roadway. Although the entire roadway was blanketed with a hail of bullets, he refused to seek cover and used his body to shield his commander from the withering fire. His action permitted his commander to drive out of the ambush zone and radio for help. Sergeant Witherspoon was mortally wounded while unselfishly placing the welfare of a fellow soldier above his own safety. His fearless act was responsible for saving the life of his commander and preventing the insurgents from completing a successful ambush. Staff Sergeant Witherspoon'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. 6251 (December 5, 1967)
  

Home Town: New York, New York

Wolford, Grover G.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Grover G. Wolford, 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 C, 2d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Platoon Sergeant Wolford distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 April 1968 during a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Bien Hoa. While moving through dense jungle undergrowth, his company encountered a reinforced Viet Cong company armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Sergeant Wolford unhesitatingly exposed himself to the enemy barrage to direct the fires of his men and organize the evacuation of casualties. spotting a wounded man lying at the base of a machine gun emplacement, he fearlessly destroyed the hostile position and rescued the soldier. After carrying two other injured men to safety, he was informed that the third platoon had suffered many casualties, including the platoon leader. Rushing to the beleaguered element, he extracted the platoon leader and two other wounded comrades from the killing zone. He then withdrew his men so that air strikes could be called in. When he discovered that three soldiers were missing, he returned to the bullet-swept area and, locating the men, brought them back to his unit's position. Platoon Sergeant Wolford'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. 247 (January 23, 1969)
  

*Wolter, James Lester

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Lester Wolter, 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, 3d Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Specialist Four Wolter distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on the evening of 7 January 1969 as a member of a Short Range Reconnaissance Patrol. As the team set up their night defensive positions, heavy rain began to fall, increasing the danger of enemy activity. Shortly thereafter, movement was detected in close proximity to the camp. Attempts were made to set off claymore mines but, under the cover of darkness and the heavy rain, the enemy had managed to cut the wires leading to the explosives. The team suddenly came under a barrage of small arms fire, grenades and satchel charges. Pinned down by the intense fusillade, the patrol was unable to return fire during the initial moments, permitting the enemy to approach their position and toss two fragmentation grenades into their location. Seeing the missiles, Specialist Wolter warned the others and with complete disregard for his personal safety, shielded his comrades from the deadly blasts. By his quick actions and complete selflessness, Specialist Wolter saved the lives of his fellow team members. Specialist Four Wolter'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. 984 (March 21, 1969)
  

Home Town: Granada, Minnesota

Wood, Daniel

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Daniel Wood, 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, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Wood distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 May 1970 while participating in combat operations in Svay Rieng Province, Republic of Cambodia. On this date, Specialist Wood and his unit had just entered an apparently deserted Cambodian village when they were suddenly ambushed by a well concealed enemy force. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Specialist Wood immediately charged the nearest enemy position and silenced it with a flurry of accurate fire. Observing several comrades pinned down in the murderous enemy crossfire, the specialist then began a series of assaults on three other enemy positions, systematically destroying each with the aid of a comrade. After running low on ammunition, Specialist Wood ran back through the fusillade to secure additional ammunition and immediately resumed his determined assault. Locating an enemy command bunker in a heavily fortified position, the specialist advanced to within a few meters of the position and destroyed it with fragmentation grenades. After destroying three more enemy bunkers in a similar manner, Specialist Wood was seriously wounded by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar round that landed between him and several other companions. Ignoring his own painful wounds, he dragged the other wounded allies to positions of relative safety. He then returned to his original position and destroyed two more hostile positions with the aid of other comrades. When the friendly unit was directed to move to a nearby helicopter evacuation point, Specialist Wood remained to the rear of the withdrawal to cover his companions and assist the wounded to the area. The specialist continued his determined actions until directed by his commanding officer to board one of the rescue helicopters. Specialist Four Wood'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. 5047 (1970)
  

Woods, James O.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James O. Woods, 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, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Woods distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 March 1967 while serving with an infantry company during an attack by a numerically superior Viet Cong force near the Cambodian border. Heedless of hostile fire which was raking positions of his units, Sergeant Woods ran from man to man in the defensive line to offer encouragement and direct their fire and movement. When medics ran out of first aid supplies, he unhesitatingly moved beyond the defensive perimeter to gather first aid packets from discarded equipment in the field. He was pinned down by outbursts of hostile fire many times, but dauntlessly continued until he had gathered all of the extra supplies available. At one point, Sergeant Woods spotted a small group of insurgents moving toward a small rise from which they would gain a firing advantage on the friendly force. He again left the perimeter to cut them off and placed himself between the enemy and his men. As they appeared out of the undergrowth, he killed all of them before they could inflict any casualties on his platoon. When he discovered that his platoon had been separated from the rest of the company, Sergeant Woods once again left the safety of his unit's perimeter to cut a path through the thick vegetation to the company's position. He then returned to his men and used the trail to move the wounded to a helicopter landing zone for evacuation. His courageous leadership throughout the firefight enabled his men to repulse the overwhelmingly larger hostile force and inflict numerous casualties on the insurgents. Sergeant Woods' 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. 3627 (July 18, 1967)
  

Woods, Luther L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Luther L. Woods, 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, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Captain Woods distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 19 to 23 July 1966, while commanding Company C, 327th Infantry during a search and destroy operation near Trung Luong. Shortly after being helilifted into the area, the company made contact with an entrenched Viet Cong force. Rather than risk heavy casualties, Captain Woods called in artillery and air strikes while he established a perimeter. Throughout the night, he dauntlessly exposed himself to harassing mortar and automatic weapons fire to direct the defense. After successfully repulsing a fierce Viet Cong assault on the morning of 20 June, Caption Woods ordered two platoons into a counterattack. When they suffered serious casualties, he committed his reserve and aggressively moved along the line and affected an orderly withdrawal. The next day, when one of his platoons was cut off and pinned down, he secured a helicopter to determine the disposition of the unit. His aircraft distracted enough Viet Cong fire to allow the besieged platoon to break out of the hostile crossfire. As he flew over his company positions, Captain Woods noticed that insurgent strong points completely surrounded his perimeter. He requested and received reinforcements and quickly deployed them in the defenses for the night. Just before dawn on 22 June, the insurgents launched an intense mortar attack followed by human wave assaults. During the next several hours, Captain Woods displayed exceptional courage and inspired leadership, as he was always present at the most critical position, directing the defensive fire and encouraging his men. At the conclusion of the battle, 96 insurgents had been killed. Refusing to extract his men without their dead, he again led his company against the remaining Viet Cong on 23 June and recovered the bodies. Captain Woods’ unimpeachable valor 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. 189 (January 15, 1967)
  

Worbington, John H.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John H. Worbington, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Worbington distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 February 1967 while serving as acting sergeant of a reconnaissance patrol during a search and destroy mission near Tay Ninh. While moving through thick jungle, the platoon was ambushed by a numerically superior Viet Cong force. Several men were hit within a few minutes, and the patrol lost its leader to the enemy fire. Specialist Worbington took charge of the men and organized them into a perimeter to hold off the enemy's assaults. Although he was constantly under heavy fire, he collected all of the undamaged weapons from fallen men and redistributed them among the survivors. He then ran to the point of heaviest contact and marked the enemy's positions with smoke grenades to identify them for supporting armed aircraft. Returning to his men, Specialist Worbington began to treat the wounded. He spotted a Viet Cong machine gun team moving up on the flank. He single-handedly killed the three men and captured their weapon. As he was returning again to his men, an insurgent met him and shot his rifle from his hands. He rolled to the ground, grabbed an enemy rifle that was lying in the dirt, and shot the attacker. When he reached his men, two more Viet Cong were crawling towards his position. He waited until they had approached to within a few meters and killed both of them. Throughout the engagement, he encouraged his men and kept them organized in an effective defensive against the enemy's assaults until reinforcements could arrive. Specialist Four Worbington'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. 5071 (October 4, 1967)
  

Worley, Morris G.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Morris G. Worley, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Command and Control (Central), FOB 2 (Kontum), Headquarters, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Worley distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 20 January 1967 to 21 January 1967 while serving as a Special Forces advisor to a joint American-Vietnamese platoon on combat patrol deep in hostile territory. When the point squad be was leading suddenly came under enemy fire, Sergeant Worley fearlessly charged the hostile positions, firing his rifle as he ran. His bold actions quickly inspired his men, who assaulted and overcame the insurgents, capturing one North Vietnamese soldier. After his force moved another 75 meters down the trail, it was attacked again. Sergeant Worley dauntlessly moved through a hail of bullets and laid down a devastating base of fire to allow the squad to reach cover. Having expended all his ammunition, he noticed an enemy soldier hiding in the brush a few meters to his front. Unmindful of the dangers and armed only with a bowie knife, Sergeant Worley darted through the undergrowth and single-handedly captured the insurgent. The next day, having again volunteered to take the point, he alertly detected an ambush and initiated a fire fight which killed two enemy solders. Contemptuous of the intense hostile fire, Sergeant Worley remained on the trail and engaged the North Vietnamese positions. Even when three comrades were killed at his side, he continued to fight until his rifle was shot away and he was severely wounded in the face, side and right arm. Dazed, but undaunted, he drew his pistol with his left hand, emptied the magazine at the enemy, and then threw a grenade which silenced the hostile position. Despite his painful wounds, Sergeant Worley refused to be carried and walked 275 meters to the landing zone where the unit was extracted,. His intrepid actions broke three enemy traps, saved many lives and enabled the team to complete its vital mission. Sergeant First Class Worley'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. 1621 (April 11, 1967)
  

Wright, Larry D.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Larry D. Wright, Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Five Wright distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 October 1966 while serving as door gunner on the command helicopter during aerial support of combat maneuvers near Hung Lac. Prior to the infiltration of infantry units into this area, Specialist Wright's helicopter surveyed the territory, spotting small groups approaching the village of Hung Lac. An infantry platoon was helilifted into a landing zone to search the village and made heavy contact with a Viet Cong Battalion. Specialist Wright's aircraft quickly flew in and hovered over the friendly unit, enabling him to pour suppressive fire into the enemy emplacements. During the fierce firefight, he spotted several Viet Cong in a trench about to ambush a friendly element. His extremely accurate fire, to within three meters of the friendly soldiers, destroyed the ambush and killed several of the attackers. When confronted with a machine gun position firing directly at his aircraft, Specialist Wright disregarded his personal safety by stepping out onto the skid of the helicopter and destroying that emplacement. Having landed near a pinned down squad, Specialist Wright again ignored the threat of hostile fire which ravaged the zone to race to the side of a wounded man lying in the open. He carried the casualty to the aircraft and placed him aboard just as enemy rounds hit the helicopter's hydraulic system and fuel cell. After the pilot flew to safety 150 meters away, Specialist Wright returned to the battlefield in an unarmed helicopter to rescue two more wounded men. Throughout the battle, he dauntlessly ignored imminent danger to himself to support the infantry forces. Specialist Five Wright'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. 2497 (May 30, 1967)
  

*Wright, Leroy Norris

Synopsis:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leroy Norris Wright, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Command and Control (Central), Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Wright distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 May 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.

• 
  HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2878 (June 17, 1969)
  

Home Town: Newark, New Jersey

*Wright, Robert Carrol

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Carrol Wright, Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery A, 6th Battalion, 11th Artillery, American Division. Second Lieutenant Wright distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 January 1970 while in command of an advance party of field artillerymen establishing a firebase on Hill 285 near the town of Duc Pho. Late that night the hill came under intense mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, and small arms fire from an attacking enemy force. Lieutenant Wright immediately began adjusting artillery fire on the attackers, repeatedly exposing himself to the storm of incoming fire as he attempted to determine the enemy's exact positions. Moments after the hostile force initiated their attack, an enemy mortar round impacted near Lieutenant Wright and his radio operator, inflicting them both with shrapnel wounds. Despite his wounds, Lieutenant Wright continued to coordinate friendly supporting fire until sappers breached the defensive position and were advancing toward his position. Unable to engage the infiltrators with his damaged rifle, Lieutenant Wright stood out in the open and yelled at the intruders in order to draw their attention and fire to himself and away from the wounded radioman who could not move. Lieutenant Wright then led the sappers in a running chase over forty meters away from the radioman before he was mortally felled by their fire. Second Lieutenant Wright'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. 745 (March 24, 1970)
  

Home Town: Elk City, Oklahoma

Wright, Robert L.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert L. Wright, 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, 501st Infantry, 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Specialist Wright distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 23 March 1969 while serving as the radio-telephone operator during a reconnaissance-in-force operation in the jungle region of the A Shau Valley. About three hours after sunset the night defensive perimeter came under hostile automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. During the initial volley, a rocket grenade landed only a meter from the company command post. Even though the round had ignited and could have exploded at any moment, Specialist Wright ran through the incoming fusillade and threw his body on the round, smothering the fuse and rendering it harmless. Exposing himself to direct hostile fire, he began carrying the 81 millimeter rounds to the mortar crews, until the perimeter was threatened with penetration. He then immediately commenced firing into the enemy ranks with his weapon until the enemy withdrew. Specialist Four Wright'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. 3069 (August 11, 1969)
  

Wright, Ronald J.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ronald J. Wright, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Specialist Four Wright distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 May 1967 while serving as medic of an airborne infantry platoon on a reinforcing mission deep in hostile territory. While moving to relieve the pressure on a sister platoon which was heavily engaged and pinned down by a numerically superior hostile force, his unit was savagely attacked by enemy soldiers firing automatic weapons. As the intensity of the battle increased, Specialist Wright heard a call for help from a wounded comrade. Completely disregarding his own safety, he began working his way toward the man through a hail of murderous fire. The concussion from an exploding grenade knocked him to the ground and stunned him, but he quickly got up and moved to the wounded soldier. He was seriously wounded while administering aid, but he ignored his injury and moved his comrade to safety. Refusing aid for himself, he again dashed through the withering fire to reach another casualty. Despite his own weakened condition, he carried the man back through a curtain of Viet Cong fire and treated the wounded soldier until he could no longer continue. Specialist Four Wright'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. 6350 (December 10, 1967)
  

Wroblewski, Frank Matthew

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank Matthew Wroblewski, 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, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Captain Wroblewski distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 September 1967 while serving as commander of an infantry company on a combat mission in Hau Nghia Province near the Cambodian border. During the first few minutes of a heliborne assault on a Viet Cong bivouac area, his unit was savagely attacked and pinned down on the landing zone by withering enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. The insurgents completely surrounded the landing zone. Captain Wroblewski dauntlessly led his command group through a curtain of fire to a relatively protected position. He then discovered two of his platoons had lost radio contact with the command group and immediately moved to locate and lead them to join his other elements. He moved across two hundred meters of open ground, ignoring bullets striking all around him, to reach the first platoon. while he called air strikes to within fifty meters of their positions, the men began their movement toward the established defensive perimeter. Again moving across the battlefield alone, he reached the second platoon which was hopelessly trapped by extremely intense fire. The relentless barrage prevented movement without losses, so Captain Wroblewski moved into the open to direct artillery strikes within one hundred meters of his position. As the platoon withdrew, he remained behind to personally cover their movement. For four hours he continually moved among his men, inspiring them to fight furiously until reinforcements arrived and the combined forces routed the Viet Cong. Captain Wroblewski'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. 81 (January 6, 1968)
  

Wymer, Merrill F., Jr.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Merrill F. Wymer, Jr., Captain (Medical Corps), 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, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Captain Wymer distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 August 1967 while serving as surgeon of an infantry battalion on a search and destroy mission in the Soui Ca Valley. Notified that wounded members of his battalion were in critical need of medical assistance, Captain Wymer immediately secured a helicopter and flew to the battle site. He landed in total darkness with fighting raging all around him and dashed to the front to treat the wounded who were pinned down close to enemy bunkers. He constantly exposed himself to ravaging Viet Cong firepower, disregarding his own safety to treat his seriously wounded comrades. With bullets constantly striking all around him, he moved from man to man administering aid and moving the men to more secure positions. For more than five hours he repeatedly refused to take cover although enemy fire constantly raked his positions as he moved across the bullet-swept terrain in front of friendly positions. He repeatedly and skillfully administered treatment in the darkness while the insurgents sought to stop his gallant efforts. His fearless actions in the face of grave danger were responsible for saving twelve lives and greatly inspired the friendly ground forces to fight on through the night to defeat the determined enemy. Captain Wymer'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. 6208 (December 1, 1967)
  

Yearta, Jesse L.

Synopsis:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jesse L. Yearta, 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 as an American Advisor with the 81st Ranger Group, Airborne Division Assistance Team, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Yearta's distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 20 April 1972 through 20 May 1972. 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, MACV Support Command General Order No. 2440 (October 17, 1972)
  

Yost, Burrwood, Jr.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Burrwood Yost, Jr., 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 (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Sergeant Yost distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 September 1966 while serving as squad leader during a search and destroy mission near Tuy Hoa. As the last helicopter of the platoon landed, the whole unit received intense hostile fire from three sides. Sergeant Yost observed a partially concealed, friendly machine gun, whose ammunition lay 50 meters away. Calling for suppressive fire, with complete disregard for his safety, Sergeant Yost ran across the 50 meters of open terrain to deliver the ammunition. Later, while receiving intense hostile fire, he organized a fire team that was cutoff from its leader. During this action he dove for an incoming grenade and hurled it into the open where it exploded harmlessly, an action which he subsequently repeated three times. He then jumped up and charged a machine gun position 50 meters away and succeeded in killing the surprised Viet Cong. Sergeant Yost repeatedly threw grenades into the hostile emplacements while receiving hostile fire. This enabled the platoon to drive the Viet Cong out of their entrenched positions. Later, while in pursuit of the insurgents, Sergeant Yost led his squad to within very close range of a prepared hostile force before being detected. To clarify the positions of the Viet Cong, Sergeant Yost called to the insurgents to draw their fire. Instructing his machine gunner to lay down a base of fire, Sergeant Yost threw grenades into the enemy positions, forcing them to withdraw. Sergeant Yost'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. 6752 (December 10, 1966)
  

Young, Ronald R.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ronald R. Young, 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. Army Advisory Group, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Young distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 7 through 11 May 1969 while serving as light weapons infantry advisor on a reconnaissance and search operation in Long Khanh Province. When the unit made contact with a North Vietnamese regiment, Sergeant Young immediately directed supporting aircraft on the enemy positions, successfully driving the hostile force away. After a similar encounter the following day, the unit held their position. Late in the afternoon, however, the enemy again launched an attack. The reinforcements which had joined his unit were forced to withdraw under heavy pressure. Sergeant Young single-handedly engaged a flanking enemy squad, killing or wounding every member and thus opening an avenue of escape. When a machine gun opened fire less than seventy-five meters away, hindering the unit's movement, he single- handedly stormed the position and eliminated it with hand grenades. He then assumed advisory command of the unit when the senior advisor was wounded and through his calm and assuring attitude was instrumental in preventing the troops from becoming panicky and withdrawing. Throughout the night and during the following day, Sergeant Young exposed himself to enemy fire as he directed gun ships on the hostile position in an attempt to keep the unit from being overrun. When the enemy had completely surrounded them, the Vietnamese commander decided to attempt a break out. Calling aerial support fire to weaken a section of the encirclement force, Sergeant Young successfully aided the Vietnamese commander in his plight to lead the remnant of his unit out of the trap, saving many lives. Sergeant First Class Young'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. 3123 (August 13, 1969)
  

Zauber, Jeffery F.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jeffery F. Zauber, Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 3d Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light). Specialist Five Zauber distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 2 February 1969 while serving as company medic during a mission to relieve a sister unit engaged with an enemy force. Approaching the combat area, Specialist Zauber's company came under intense enemy fire and sustained several casualties. Disregarding his own safety, he crawled forward to aid his wounded comrades. He continually exposed himself to the hostile barrages to assist and evacuate the casualties to a protected area. Having administered to the men of his company, he maneuvered forward to assist the other beleaguered unit. While treating one of the soldiers, an enemy grenade exploded nearby. Because Specialist Zauber had taken the precaution of shielding his patient, only the medic received fragmentation wounds. Despite painful lacerations, he remained with the casualty until recovery was effected. Refusing evacuation for himself, Specialist Zauber continued providing medical assistance as long as the conflict lasted. Specialist Five Zauber'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. 2247 (June 25, 1969)
  

*Zerr, Kent Martin

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kent Martin Zerr, 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 Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four Zerr distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 March 1970 while serving as point man of a rifle platoon operating near the Cambodian border in search of a suspected enemy bunker complex. While moving toward the suspected enemy area, Specialist Zerr spotted the first enemy bunker and alerted the rest of the platoon. As the platoon began to sweep the bunker complex, they came under intense machine gun and automatic weapons fire from an estimated company-size enemy force. One of Specialist Zerr's comrades was wounded at the beginning of the conflict. Specialist Zerr exposed himself to intense enemy fire as he rushed to his comrade's aid and moved him to a rear area. When Specialist Zerr returned to the contact area, he found his unit embattled from the front and on both flanks. Noticing an enemy machine gun position only fifteen meters away, Specialist Zerr crawled forward through enemy fire and threw a hand grenade into the bunker, destroying the machine gun and killing the bunker's three occupants. Ordered to withdraw so that gunships could be called in on the enemy positions, Specialist Zerr volunteered to provide cover fire for his platoon's withdrawal. Specialist Zerr's bravery exposed himself as he placed suppressive fire on the enemy positions and received return fire. While performing this mission, he was mortally wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire. Specialist Four Zerr'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. 1944 (June 21, 1970)
  

Home Town: Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania

Ziobron, Edward C.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward C. Ziobron, Sergeant, 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 Command and Control (Central), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant Ziobron distinguished himself while serving as squad leader of an American-Vietnamese exploitation force operating deep within enemy controlled territory. On the first day of the mission, Sergeant Ziobron's squad stopped for a security break when he detected enemy soldiers advancing towards their position. Reacting immediately he led his team in an assault against the enemy's defenses. Although seriously wounded by fragments from an impacting B-40 round, Sergeant Ziobron continued to advance upon the adversary by unleashing a steady concentration of automatic weapons fire. So devastating was his assault that the foe broke contact and fled in confusion. The following day no contact was made and the friendly element departed for a landing zone for medical evacuation of wounded personnel. Upon arrival his patrol again encountered enemy resistance. Firing light anti-tank weapons, Sergeant Ziobron successfully repelled the attackers. Refusing medical extraction, he remained with his team to direct their night defensive positions. The following morning his patrol was attacked by a north Vietnamese force firing B-40 rockets, automatic weapons and small arms. Wounded again, Sergeant Ziobron led his men in an aggressive assault, causing the foe to withdraw. Afterwards, the allied patrol moved toward an extraction site. During their movement they were again attacked by a large hostile force. Wounded in the leg, Sergeant Ziobron crawled forward, tossing hand grenades and firing his weapon upon the foe. Realizing the numerical superiority of the belligerent force, he summoned air support and directed accurate air strikes upon the hostile positions. Then, ignoring his own painful wounds, he led his patrol to an extraction zone where they were rescued the following morning. Because of his determined actions, he averted total annihilation of the allied patrol by the superior enemy force. Sergeant Ziobron'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. 2349 (July 26, 1971)
  

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