By Direction

of the

President of the United States

The

Distinguished Service Cross

Is Awarded

To

Jimmy Aguirre

Rank and Unit:  Specialist Five, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division

Date and Place:  4 December 1967,  Republic of Vietnam

Reason:  For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:  Specialist Five Aguirre distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 December 1967 as platoon medic of an infantry company conducting a waterborne reconnaissance mission in Dinh Tuong Province.  The unit was patrolling a small canal aboard armored troop carriers when it was violently ambushed by an estimated Viet Cong heavy weapons company deployed on both sides of the canal.  Specialist Aguirre's platoon immediately landed and led an assault on the enemy through a barrage of rocket, automatic weapons and rifle grenade fire.  Hearing cries for medical aid from two comrades who had fallen fifty meters from his position, Specialist Aguirre raced across a bullet swept open field toward the casualties.  He was hit and painfully sounded by fragments from an exploding enemy rocket.  Ignoring his wounds he fired at the insurgents as he continued to move through the withering hostile fusillade.  Upon reaching the wounded men, Specialist Aguirre skillfully administered first aid and moved them to a position of relative safety.  He then returned to the battlefield and maneuvered toward two more casualties.  Although wounded again by automatic weapons fire and flying shrapnel, he treated the soldiers and pulled them to cover.  Detecting yet another wounded comrade lying near the Viet Cong positions, Specialist Aguirre refused medical aid for himself and crawled toward the smitten man.  He was struck a third time by rocket fragments, but gallantly moved forward in the face of devastating fire and dragged his comrade to safety.  Despite the pain of over fifty separate shrapnel and bullet wounds, he saved the lives of five unit members through sheer determination.  Specialist Five Aguirre'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.