Full Text Citations For Award of

The Distinguished Service Cross
 Foreign Recipients  - Vietnam 
Australian (1)  *  Vietnamese (3)

Australian Army

To All Who Shall See These Presents Greeting: This is to Certify that The President of the United States of America Takes Pleasure in Presenting THE  DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS to PAYNE, KEITH Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Keith Payne, Chief Warrant Officer (WO-2), Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with the Australian Army Training Team. While personally leading the 212th Company, 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion, in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 24 May 1969, his company was attacked by an overwhelming force of the North Vietnamese Army. The attack isolated the two lead companies. They then came under heavy rocket and mortar fire and an infantry ground assault from three directions. This intensive attack caused the strike force to begin withdrawing. Warrant Officer Payne, exposing himself to enemy fire, rallied the troops by firing his personal weapon and running from position to position, collecting and hurling grenades at the attacking enemy. He was wounded in his hands and arms. Despite his outstanding efforts, the indigenous soldiers retreated and the battalion commander and staff retreated with them. Warrant Officer Payne covered this retreat by firing his weapons and throwing grenades. Under heavy fire he ran across exposed terrain to stop the disorderly withdrawal - and as night fell - organized his company into defensive perimeter. He then proceeded into enemy held territory collecting some forty wounded and lost soldiers. Upon returning to the defensive perimeter, he found that his battalion had left. Undeterred he continued collecting staggers and led them and four American soldiers to a final rendezvous where he supervised the evacuation of all wounded personnel. He refused to be evacuated until all other wounded had departed the area. Through his sustained and courageous soldiery performance, he saved the lives of his American comrades in arms and many Vietnamese soldiers, bringing great credit to the Australian and United States Armies. Born: August 30, 1933 at Ingham, Queensland, Australia Home Town: Australia Personal Awards: British Victoria Cross (Vietnam), Distinguished Service Cross (Vietnam)

 

Vietnamese Army

To All Who Shall See These Presents Greeting: This is to Certify that The President of the United States of America Takes Pleasure in Presenting THE  DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS to   HOANG, CHA LY Synopsis: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Cha Ly Hoang, Commando, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Commando Cha Ly Hoang distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 September 1970. Commando Hoang's conspicuous gallantry and heroic action were in the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Department of the Army, General Orders No. 40 (October 27, 1972) Home Town: Vietnam LUONG, PHAN-NGOC Synopsis: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Phan-Ngoc Luong, Captain, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 1st Battalion, 3d Regiment, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Luong distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 30 January 1968 to 24 February 1968. Captain Luong's conspicuous gallantry and heroic action were in the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Department of the Army, General Orders No. 13 (March 6, 1969) Home Town: Vietnam *TAN, DO VAN (KIA) Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Do Van Tan, Private, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, for extraordinary heroism in action while a member of Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 41st Regiment, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Private Do Van Tran distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving an opposing force in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 January 1968. During an attack by an estimated North Vietnamese Army battalion on the command post of the 2d Battalion, 41st Regiment, Private Tan went to his place of duty with four American advisors in a bunker. The numerically superior enemy, attacking with rockets, mortars, automatic weapons, small arms and hand grenades, mounted a coordinated assault from several directions and overran the defensive positions, throwing hand grenades into the fortified positions as they passed through the command post. A grenade was thrown into the bunker occupied by Private Tan and the American advisors. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his personal well-being, Private Tan grasped the grenade and threw himself on it, shielding the American advisors from the blast and shrapnel. Private Tan, through his unselfish and valorous sacrifice of his own live, prevented possible loss of life or serious injury to the four American advisors who were in the bunker. Private Tan's conspicuous gallantry and heroic action were in the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Department of the Army, General Orders No. 7 (January 29, 1969) Home Town: Vietnam

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