By Direction
of the
President of the United States
The
Distinguished Service Cross
Is Awarded
To
William H. Bledsoe
Rank and Unit:
Specialist Four, Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Infantry
Brigade, Americal Division
Date and Place:
12 Mary 1968, 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 four Bledsoe distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous
actions on 12 May 1968 as a medic at Kham Duc Special Forces camp.
He was stationed at an observation post when a large North Vietnamese
force directed a series of mortar, rocket and ground attacks against it.
When the post could no longer be defended, his team was ordered back to
the base camp. While passing through a small village near the
compound's perimeter, Specialist Bledsoe's element came under heavy mortar
and small arms fire to aid his injured comrade. Afterwards, as the
small band crossed into the perimeter, and enemy mortar round exploded in
one of the camp's gun pits, and Specialist Bledsoe ran into the position
and administer medical aid to the wounded. While he was treating the
casualties, the emplacement was hit by another mortar round which severely
wounded him and set fire to the position. Despite his wounds and the
flames, he continued to treat the other casualties and move them to
safety. He then prepared his patients for evacuation. As the
ambulance helicopters arrived, one of them was shot down by the heavy
enemy fire. Despite efforts to restrain him, Specialist Bledsoe ran
over three hundred meters through a hail of mortar shrapnel to reach the
downed aircraft. After freeing a trapped crew member, he carried the
man through continuing intense fire to a position of cover.
Specialist Four Bledsoe'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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