I’m going to highlight a few Distinguished Service Cross recipients again. There is no way I can list all the recipients by the date of action. That alone would take pages that I just couldn’t keep up with.
So, I will try to represent awardees from each of the major conflicts that the US has been involved in as often as I can.
Fred Crowley
Fred Crowley was one of only TWO U.S. Marines to be awarded the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross during the Vietnam War, or since.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant Fred R. Crowley (MCSN: 0-94635), United States Marine Corps, 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 1, United States Army Advisory Group, I Corps Tactical Zone. First Lieutenant Crowley (USMC) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 September 1968 as assistant senior advisor to the Fourth Battalion, 51st Regiment, Army of the Republic of Vietnam during a battle with North Vietnamese troops south of DaNang. While radioing for a helicopter to evacuate three Vietnamese soldiers who had been badly wounded, Lieutenant Crowley was shot by an enemy sniper. Wishing to remain as alert as possible, he refused morphine which was offered to relieve the pain of his serious wounds and continued to pass vital information on the radio while being carried to the landing zone. As the ambulance helicopter came in, it was struck by hostile fire, overturned and crashed in flames within ten meters of the waiting casualties. Intense small arms and mortar fire sprayed the area, which was lit up by the burning ship. With complete disregard for his own welfare, Lieutenant Crowley organized the rescue of the wounded Vietnamese and helped direct the seven injured crew members and passengers to safety. Though aggravating his wounds, he then picked up his radio and crawled to the command post. After requesting another ambulance ship, he assisted the injured pilots, holding canteens while those with hands drank. When the second helicopter arrived, Lieutenant Crowley again directed the movement of the wounded to the bullet-swept landing zone. Almost unconscious from loss of blood, he reached the craft with the assistance of a comrade and was safely evacuated. First Lieutenant Crowley’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Marine Corps.
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: First Lieutenant
Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 608 (February 20, 1969)
Raymond Enners
Date of birth: 5 Nov. 1945
Home of record: Farmingdale, N.Y.
Raymond Enners graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1967.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Raymond James Enners (ASN: OF-111531), 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 with Company A, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Enners distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 September 1968 while serving as a platoon leader during a combat sweep near the village of Ha Thanh. While moving across a small valley, his platoon was ambushed by a reinforced North Vietnamese Army squad firing machine guns, automatic weapons and small arms from camouflaged positions on a hillside. A squad leader was severely wounded and fell within twenty meters of the communists. Helplessly trapped by raking fire from the enemy gunners, the badly bleeding squad leader called for help, but the deadly hostile fire kept anyone from reaching him. Lieutenant Enners, hearing his cries, began moving forward to rescue him. From his position one hundred meters back, he crawled forward through the rice paddies and leaped across the intervening dikes, dodging through continuous bursts of enemy fire until he reached his forward squad trapped behind a dike twenty meters from the fallen squad leader. With the aid of one of the other squad leaders, he dispersed his men and signaled for covering fire. He and the squad leader then jumped over the dike and ran forward through the blistering fire to within ten meters of the wounded man, but were forced to turn back when the North Vietnamese began throwing grenades. Calling for a second burst of cover fire, the two men again raced across the bullet-ridden paddies, only to be halted again by the shrapnel of exploding grenades. Returning to the scant cover of the dike, Lieutenant Enners reorganized his men, maneuvering one squad twenty meters to the right of the enemy emplacements and directing the remainder of the platoon to areas from which they could lay down the most effective cross fire. Signaling a third time for his men to open up on the aggressors, he and the squad leader vaulted the dike and again attempted to reach the wounded man. Braving rounds scorching the air around them, they raced to the injured man’s position and took cover behind the dike, After applying first aid to the man’s wounds while the squad leader fired at the North Vietnamese, Lieutenant Enners picked up the injured man, again disregarding the risk to his own life to carry him back across the battlefield to the care of medical aidmen. Moving the squad on the right through a hail of fire, he moved to within fifteen meters of the enemy before he was fatally wounded by hostile machine gun fire. First Lieutenant Enners’ 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.
Service: Army
Rank: First Lieutenant
Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 403 (February 5, 1969)
Isidro Urbano
Home of record: San Francisco, Calif.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the Korean War
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Isidro D. Urbano (ASN: 0-1324892), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with an Infantry Company of the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Urbano distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Kumhwa, Korea, on 18 September 1952. On that date, Lieutenant Urbano was leading a patrol that had been ordered to assault an enemy-held hill for the purpose of taking prisoners of war. As the group was approaching the objective, it was pinned down by an intense barrage of sniper, machine-gun, and mortar fire. In the devastating rain of fire, the patrol became disorganized and suffered numerous casualties. Disregarding his personal safety, Lieutenant Urbano moved among the men, reorganized them and encouraging them. He was preparing to move on to their objective when he received order from the battalion commander to withdraw. As he supervised the withdrawal, Lieutenant Urbano saw a wounded comrade lying in an exposed position. Unhesitatingly he moved towards the wounded man in an attempt to rescue him, firing his weapon at the enemy as ranks. Lieutenant Urbano almost reached his comrade when he was mortally wounded.
Service: Army
Rank: First Lieutenant
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 507 (May 24, 1953)
Peter Monfore
Date of birth: 10 Aug. 1927
Home of record: Bon Homme, S.D.
Peter Monfore was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1950.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the Korean War
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Peter Howland Monfore (ASN: 0-62499), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while commanding Company L, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Monfore distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Satae-ri, Korea, on the night of 18 – 19 September 1951. On that night, Lieutenant Monfore received orders to lead his company in an attack against a numerically superior hostile force occupying heavily fortified positions on a key terrain feature. On the morning of 19 September 1951, the friendly forces had fought its way, yard by yard, to its objective under the inspiring leadership of Lieutenant Monfore, who had consistently remained with the leading assault elements, exhorting his men onward. After reaching the objective, Lieutenant Monfore deployed his men in defensive positions in anticipation of the enemy counterattack which was inevitable. It began with a tremendous artillery and mortar barrage which inflicted many casualties among the already battered friendly force. Disregarding his own personal safety, Lieutenant Monfore constantly moved about the exposed terrain, calming his men and inspiring confidence. Immediately after the barrage abated, two battalions of the enemy launched a fanatic attack to regain the hill. For five and a half hours the battle raged with the friendly troops repeatedly hurling the enemy back. Realizing that the ammunition of his small force was practically exhausted, Lieutenant Monfore moved about the fire-swept terrain, gathering ammunition and weapons from both friendly and enemy casualties. At one point, he found a friendly gun crew dead in its emplacement. Without hesitation, he manned the machine-gun and poured a devastating volume of fire into the onrushing ranks of the enemy. When the ammunition of the friendly troops was almost depleted, he ordered them to withdraw. As he moved about the terrain in order to direct his men as they withdrew, Lieutenant Monfore was killed by enemy sniper fire.
Service: Army
Rank: First Lieutenant
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 62 (January 31, 1952)
Thomas Greene
Home of record: Luna County, N.M.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Thomas A. Greene (ASN: 38103835), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 15th Armored Infantry Battalion, 5th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 18 September 1944, in Germany. A squad of armored infantrymen accompanied by a tank was assigned the mission of pushing through enemy positions to regain contact with the battalion Command Post. Staff Sergeant Greene, though wounded the previous day, voluntarily accompanied his comrades on the dangerous assignment. Near the enemy lines, the tank received a direct hit. While its crew members were attempting to dismount, two men were seriously wounded. Disregarding heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire placed by the enemy upon the disabled tank, Staff Sergeant Greene advanced unhesitatingly to aid the wounded men. He ignored the pleas of his comrades to return to the rear when the squad was ordered to withdraw and chose to remain with the men. When intense enemy mortar fire began to fall in the area, Staff Sergeant Greene with calm efficiency and at the risk of his own life, continued to render medical treatment. He was last seen attempting to drag his wounded comrades to the safety of a nearby ditch. By his display of fearless courage, tenacity of purpose and unflinching devotion to duty, Staff Sergeant Greene exemplified the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflected great credit upon himself, the 5th Armored Division, and the United States Army.
Service: Army
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 82 (1944)
Stanley Stevens
Home of record: Solano, Calif.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Stanley E. Stevens (ASN: 39399951), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company G, 3d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 18 September 1944, at Nijmegen, Holland. In an attack by Company G into the city of Nijmegen, to seize and hold the highway bridge within that city, Staff Sergeant Stevens led the point of his company advance with such courage and aggressiveness that his company was able to continue its attack without delay. Staff Sergeant Stevens led his men in clearing snipers from several houses. At one point he attacked a building single-handed, and killed two Germans manning a machine gun while another group cleared a building across the street. After the company had advanced farther into the city, at least two German machine guns began firing into the column, pinning down the entire company. Staff Sergeant Stevens maneuvered his point from the line of enemy fire. He established a base of fire to cover the German positions and without other assistance, assaulted one position with sub-machine gun and grenades, destroying the position. He succeeded in diverting the fire of the enemy upon himself and permitted his company to neutralize the position. During the action he was mortally wounded. The exemplary conduct and outstanding bravery of Staff Sergeant Stevens, and his willingness to close with the enemy, contributed in large measure to the success of his company attack and rendered a distinguished service in the accomplishment of his company and battalion mission. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
Service: Army
Rank: Sergeant
Headquarters, XVIII Airborne Corps, General Orders No. 14 (1944)
James Cupp
Awards and Citations
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain James N. Cupp (MCSN: 0-9004), United States Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Division Leader and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTEEN (VMF-213), Marine Air Group ELEVEN (MAG-11), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area, on 18 September 1943. While leading his three-fighter division on a patrol over our base on Vella Lavella, Captain Cupp boldly intercepted an overwhelming force of fifteen hostile dive bombers and their fighter escorts threatening our installations. Promptly engaging the enemy, he personally blasted four bombers from the sky and assisted in the shooting down of another. By his superb skill, daring initiative and devotion to duty, Captain Cupp contributed to the success of his squadron and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Service: Marine Corps Reserve
Rank: Captain
Commander, South Pacific: Serial 02538 (March 19, 1947)
John Fray
Place of birth: Waterbury, Conn.
Home of record: Waterbury, Conn.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War I
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal John P. Fray (ASN: 65276), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., at St. Hilaire, France, 18 September 1918. While under heavy enemy machine-gun fire, Corporal Fray charged a machine gun single-handed, putting it out of action and dispersing its crew. Later, as the raiding party withdrew, he assisted in carrying back the wounded.
Service: Army
Rank: Corporal
War Department, General Orders No. 26 (1919)
Clarence Geer
Place of birth: New Milford, Conn.
Home of record: Torrington, Conn.
Awards and Citations
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War I
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Clarence W. Geer, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., at St. Hilaire, France, September 18 – 19, 1918. While advancing with a raiding party, in the face of heavy machine-gun fire, he charged alone into the woods and captured two prisoners single-handed. After the raiding party had retired, he again went back alone into the woods under the same heavy machine-gun fire, to locate wounded who had been left behind. His courage and exceptional bravery set an example to his men which contributed greatly to the success of the raid.
Service: Army
Rank: First Lieutenant
War Department, General Orders 78 (1919)
Truth, Lies and In Between 