By Direction

of the

President of the United States

The

Distinguished Service Cross

Is Awarded

To

Danny Dennard

Rank and Unit:  Specialist Five, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile)

Date and Place:  10 March 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 Five Dennard distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 March 1968 as a medic with a recondo force near Hue.  When contact was made, Specialist Dennard raced through the bullet-swept terrain, crossing the enemy's field of fire, to treat and evacuate two wounded comrades.  Returning to the battle after taking them to the landing zone, he maneuvered to within fifty meters of the hostile trench line and evacuated to within fifty meters of the hostile trench line and evacuated four more casualties.  Carrying an ammunition resupply on his way back to the contested area, he saw another wounded trooper.  While attempting to get to the man, Specialist Dennard was knocked to the ground by an enemy grenade and wounded in the head.  Disregarding his wound, he rushed to the man's side and treated him before tending his own injury.  He then continued to the front lines to distribute the desperately needed ammunition.  When another soldier was wounded during an effort to recover the bodies of two men who had been killed by enemy fire, Specialist Dennard fearlessly exposed himself to the communist' barrage to treat him and bring him to safety.  A second assault was attempted and another man was wounded.  He rescued his stricken comrade and carried him three hundred meters to the evacuation site, also helping a casualty whom he discovered along the way.  Specialist Dennard then joined in a third assault, which again proved futile and produced another casualty.  After treating the man he took part in a final charge which overran the enemy fortifications.  Knowing that if he allowed himself to be evacuated his unit would be left without a medic, he refused to board the ambulance helicopter and remained with his comrades at their night position, going without treatment until the following morning.  Specialist Five Dennard'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.