JACKSON, WARREN G.
Chief Warrant Officer (W-2), U.S. Army
Medical Company, 215th Combat Support Battalion (Separate), 3d Brigade (Separate), 1st Cavalry Division
Date of Action: June 28, 1971
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Warren G. Jackson, 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 Medical Company, 215th Combat Support Battalion (Separate), 3d Brigade (Separate), 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Chief Warrant Officer Jackson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 June 1971 while serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1H medical evacuation helicopter answering an urgent medical evacuation request for Charlie Company, 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry. This unit had sustained eight critically wounded patients while engaging an undetermined size force of North Vietnamese troops situated in well-fortified bunkers. While Chief Warrant Officer Jackson circled the contact site, he observed another medical evacuation helicopter, answering the same urgent call for evacuation, sustain serious damage from ground fire and crash in flames. Disregarding his personal safety, Chief Warrant Officer Jackson immediately descended his helicopter through a small opening in the jungle canopy to the site of the crippled aircraft and its crew. Enduring intense hostile fire from enemy soldiers advancing from the surrounding wood line, Chief Warrant Officer Jackson remained in control of the situation by directing suppressive fire from nearby Cobra gunships which stopped the enemy's attack. The time gained by this act allowed the downed crew to be loaded on his aircraft for evacuation to safety. As Chief Warrant Officer Jackson began his take-off, the burning helicopter's fuel cells exploded requiring him to make immediate evasive maneuvers to avoid having his own aircraft destroyed by the blast. Upon leaving the immediate area, Chief Warrant Officer Jackson's aircraft was again subjected to devastating small arms fire, but due to his calm and professional attitude, disaster was again averted. Chief Warrant Officer Jackson's devotion to duty and concern for his fellow soldiers led him to the same embattled area twice again that day with his damaged aircraft; thus, eight more wounded troops were safely evacuated. Chief Warrant Officer Jackson'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 871 (May 1, 1972) JOHNSON, JAMES H.
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Americal Division
Date of Action: March 15, 1969
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James H. Johnson, 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, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division. Specialist Four Johnson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 March 1969 while serving as medical aidman during a combat sweep operation near Tap An Bac. As his company entered a thickly vegetated area, heavy fire erupted from a series of hostile positions. Immediately Specialist Johnson began administering medical treatment to the wounded. As the unit moved forward, the communist forces poured intense machine gun fire into the advancing ranks, wounding several including the company commander. Braving the enemy barrage, Specialist Johnson rushed to their aid. He contrived a litter on which the commander was evacuated to an ambulance helicopter. Returning to the area of conflict where enemy grenades were exploding, he continued to minister to casualties, bandaging wounds, treating for shock and aiding in the evacuation of the seriously wounded. Specialist Four Johnson'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2709 (July 17, 1969) *JUSTINIANO, VICTOR A., JR.
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Company B, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Date of Action: March 3, 1968
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Victor A. Justiniano, Jr., 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 B, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Private First Class Justiniano distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 March 1968 as the medic of an infantry platoon conducting a search and destroy mission in the central highlands near Kontum. the patrol was following the trail of a wounded North Vietnamese soldier when it came under a heavy automatic weapons and rocket attack. The enemy was only ten meters to the front, entrenched in a reinforced bunker complex. Two men of the point element were wounded in the initial volley of fire. With complete disregard for his safety, Private Justiniano moved forward to aid them. As he advanced, he was wounded several times by automatic weapons fire and shrapnel from an exploding rocket. Ignoring his wounds, he crawled forward and finally reached the position where his two comrades lay exposed to enemy fire. He moved one man to safety and treated him. He then returned for the other soldier who was almost directly in front of an enemy position. As he attempted to rescue the casualty, Private Justiniano was mortally wounded. Private First Class Justiniano'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3600 (July 26, 1968)
Home Town: New York, New York *KELLY, CHARLES L.
Major (Medical Service Corps), U.S. Army
57th Medical Detachment,
Date of Action: July 1, 1964
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major (Medical Service Corps) Charles L. Kelly (ASN: 0-70399), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving as an Aircraft Commander of the 57th Medical Detachment, on 1 July 1964. Major Kelly demonstrated exceptional courage, strong determination, and complete disregard for his own personal safety while participating in an aerial medical mission to evacuate wounded soldiers from an area under heavy attack by hostile forces. With unique professional skill and full knowledge of the intense ground fire and the immediate proximity of the enemy, he landed the unarmed helicopter ambulance close to the wounded men in the exposed area. Although the ground advisor warned him of the grave danger and recommended departure, Major Kelly refused to leave without the wounded soldiers and succeeded in loading them aboard the helicopter moments before he was mortally wounded by hostile gun fire. Major Kelly's extraordinary heroic actions, valiant efforts, and deep concern for his fellow man are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Medical Service, and the armed forces of his community.
General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 40 (December 11, 1964)
Home Town: Warm Springs, Georgia *KENNEDY, ALTON R.
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Date of Action: December 17, 1966
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alton R. Kennedy, 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), 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Private First Class Kennedy distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 December 1966 while serving as a medic with elements of the 1st Cavalry Division during a combat assault in the Highway 506 Valley. Maneuvering against an entrenched North Vietnamese Army force, his platoon and another company became pinned down by intense hostile fire. Private Kennedy quickly raced forward and began treating his stricken comrades. Dauntlessly exposing himself to the devastating fire, he was wounded in the leg as he aided a fellow soldier. Unmindful of the pain, Private Kennedy crawled to the side of another man and bandaged his wounds. He then called for men to help in the evacuation and made several trips back through the hail of bullets to carry more injured soldiers to safety. Oblivious to the extreme dangers, Private Kennedy left his covered position to retrieve another casualty, who was lying within ten meters of an insurgent bunker. Inching his way through the rounds that were kicking up dirt all around him, he succeeded in dragging the man back to the company perimeter. Pausing only to retard his own bleeding, Private Kennedy ignored requests to await further treatment and courageously reentered the ravaged battlefield. He crawled forward yet another time, but was fatally wounded a few meters from a hostile machine gun position. His unimpeachable valor and selfless concern for the welfare of others, inspired his entrapped comrades and saved the lives of others, inspired his entrapped comrades and saved the lives of many fellow soldiers. Private First Class Kennedy'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1059 (March 11, 1967) KIMURA, DONALD K.
Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Date of Action: January 8, 1970
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald K. Kimura, Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Five Kimura distinguished himself while serving as senior medical advisor during a company search and clear mission on the northeastern slope of Nui Ba Den Mountain. While conducting a sweep through various mountainside caves, Specialist Kimura's unit engaged an estimated battalion size enemy force. During this initial encounter, Specialist Kimura braved enemy sniper fire several times as he maneuvered long distances to administer aid and to direct the wounded to cover. Still under enemy fire, Specialist Kimura returned to the base of the mountain and personally carried several casualties to evacuation helicopters. Later in the afternoon, as the entire company was moving to the base of the mountain, the enemy renewed their attack and caused several more casualties. Specialist Kimura crawled over sixty meters through the enemy fire to aid his wounded comrades. Upon arrival of an extraction helicopter, Specialist Kimura lifted a wounded man over his shoulder and moved toward the landing zone. As he approached the helicopter, enemy automatic weapons fire wounded the injured man and caused both of them to fall to the ground. Signaling the helicopter to leave, Specialist Kimura administered aid to his critically wounded comrade in this position for thirty minutes until he could be evacuated. During the entire action, Specialist Kimura treated twenty-five casualties and was credited with saving two lives. Specialist Five Kimura'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3243 (July 14, 1970) LINDEMANN, EDWARD W.
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Company C, 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Infantry Division
Date of Action: April 26, 1970
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward W. Lindemann, 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 Medical Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Lindeman distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 April 1970 while serving as a medical aidman on a long range reconnaissance patrol operating deep within enemy controlled territory. Shortly after initiating contact with a hostile force of unknown size, an enemy hand grenade landed next to Specialist Lindemann. Without hesitation, the specialist warned his nearby comrades and threw himself on the grenade to shield his companions. Although the grenade did not detonate, he remained on top of it until all his companions reached safety. He then gently lifted himself from the device and continued his mission. Specialist Four Lindemann'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4197 (1970) *LOBACK, THOMAS JOHN
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Date of Action: February 19, 1968
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas John Loback, 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 (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Loback distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 February 1968 as medical aidman for an infantry platoon conducting a reconnaissance-in-force operation near Hoc Mon. His platoon had just moved into a hedgerow when it was subjected to intense small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket fire from a North Vietnamese Army battalion in well fortified positions. One squad was immediately pinned down by the savage barrage and sustained several casualties. Hearing a call for medical aid, Private Loback unhesitatingly crawled forward through a withering hail of bullets and flying shrapnel, treated five wounded troops and assisted them to a position of relative safety. Continuing to brave the ravaging hostile fusillade, he raced across a bullet-swept rice field to the side of another wounded comrade and skillfully treated him. The soldier had begun moving toward cover when he was hit again by enemy sniper fire. Exposing himself to a curtain of raking machine gun fire, Private Loback fearlessly rushed back to the casualty and treated him a second time. Refusing to abandon his life-saving mission, he began to pull his seriously wounded patient to safety. Private Loback was instantly killed by enemy automatic weapons fire while gallantly placing the welfare of a fellow soldier above his own in the heat of battle. Private First Class Loback'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1820 (April 19, 1969)
Home Town: New York, New York LOFTUS, ROBERT
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Company B, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
Date of Action: August 20, 1969
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Loftus, 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 B, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Private First Class Loftus distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 August 1968 while serving as a medical aidman during a search and destroy mission in the Khe Sanh Valley. When his company received fire from a North Vietnamese bunker complex, Private Loftus immediately ran to the foremost positions to administer aid to four wounded Americans. Although he was subjected to intense hostile fire from close range, and at one point had an enemy round crease his helmet, Private Loftus treated the four soldiers and then carried them to a sheltered position some sixty meters away. Again braving the enemy barrage, he treated and extracted five more comrades from positions which were under fire. While carrying one wounded man from the conflict area, he came under direct fire, and the injured soldier in his arms was struck by another enemy round. Without hesitation, Private Loftus assaulted the hostile emplacement and destroyed it with a hand grenade and continued to evacuate the casualty. Private First Class Loftus' 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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 459 (February 17, 1970) *LONCON, LARRY JOSEPH
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Date of Action: April 27, 1970
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Larry Joseph Loncon, 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, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four Loncon distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman during combat operations in Phuoc Long Province. Specialist Loncon was accompanying a friendly force up a steep, densely vegetated hill when the lead element came under an intense volley of fire from a well entrenched enemy force. Without hesitation, Specialist Loncon advanced through the hostile fire until he reached a seriously wounded soldier in the lead element. While under enemy fire; he skillfully applied first aid to the soldier's wounds and assisted him to a rear position. The Specialist then returned to the forward area of contact to treat two comrades who had been seriously wounded. Although seriously wounded by enemy fire as he treated the two casualties, he continued to treat his comrades and assist them to safety until he collapsed. Specialist Four Loncon'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.
General Orders: HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4063 (August 31, 1970)
Home Town: New Iberia, Louisiana LOSE, CHARLES R.
Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army
Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Date of Action: November 14 & 15, 1965
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles R. Lose, Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism on 14 November and 15 November 1965 in Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. Specialist Five Lose distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 and 15 November 1965. As a Medical Aidman, Specialist Lose was serving with the Second Platoon of Company B when the Platoon became pinned down by an intense assault from a battalion size Viet Cong force and then cut off from the remainder of the Company for a period of twenty-six hours. As the enemy's deadly and heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire inflicted several casualties on the Platoon during the initial attack, Specialist Lose bravely moved through the hail of gun fire to care for the wounded. Although he was wounded in the foot by grenade fragments during one of his courageous moves to reach a fallen comrade, he continued to administer to the wounded by crawling from man to man dragging his aid kit with him. When his medical supplies became exhausted, he demonstrated rare ingenuity and determination by fashioning bandages from C-ration resources. He collected water from the canteens of the dead for distribution to the wounded. Again and again, he crawled across the open area and exposed himself to the intense hostile fire to give first aid to the wounded, often using his own body as a shield for the protection of his fellow soldiers. On the following day when a relief force reached the beleaguered unit, he refused to be evacuated until all of the wounded were taken to safety. Specialist Lose's conspicuous gallantry, his extraordinary heroism on the battlefield, and his deep concern for his fellow soldiers are in the highest traditions of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of his country.
General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 42 (October 4, 1966) |
