By Direction
of the
President of the United States
The
Distinguished Service Cross
Is Awarded
To
Joseph D Deleo
Rank and Unit:
Specialist Four, Company C,
5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Date and Place:
21 July 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 Deleo distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous
actions on 21 July 1968 while serving as a medic on a reconnaissance
patrol near Hue. His platoon came under intense hostile fire from a
well entrenched enemy force. One man was seriously wounded and lay
in the open only twenty meters to the front of a hostile automatic weapons
emplacement. attempts to rescue the man by other members of the unit
were unsuccessful. With complete disregard for his safety,
Specialist Deleo advanced twenty-five meters through a hail of enemy fire
to his injured comrade and administered first aid. A rocket then
exploded to his rear, seriously wounding another man. Specialist
Deleo unhesitantly moved through the continuing fusillade to the second
casualty, treated his wounds and supervised his evacuation. Almost
immediately another cry for a medic came, this time to assist a soldier
who had tried to extract the first casualty and was wounded only a few
feet from him. As Specialist Deleo neared the position occupied by
the two men, the enemy suddenly unleashed a particularly savage barrage on
their location. He sprang forward, pulled the two soldiers close
together and covered them with his body. He was hit in both legs and
in the hand by the murderous fire, completely immobilizing him.
Later, member of his element overran the aggressors and evacuated all
three wounded men. Specialist Four Deleo'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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