By Direction

of the

President of the United States

the

Distinguished Service Cross

Is Awarded 

to

Michael A. Fontaine

(Posthumously)

Rank and Organization:  Specialist Four, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

Date and Place:  10 January 1969, 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 Fontaine distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 January 1969 as a medic during a search and clear mission northeast of Quan Loi.  His company made contact with an estimated reinforced company sized North Vietnamese Army force which was concealed in the underbrush and was armed with rockets, mortars, and both semiautomatic and automatic weapons.  Repeatedly exposing himself to the hostile fire, Specialist Fontaine treated the members of his platoon who were wounded and brought them to a central location where they could be evacuated.  When the communists launched a massive ground assault, he fearlessly moved to the area of the fiercest fighting and continued to care for his suffering comrades.  Suddenly a enemy mortar round exploded near an automatic weapon position, wounding three soldiers.  Despite the heavy concentration of hostile fire directed at the site, he rushed forward to their aid.  After he had bandaged two of the men and was nearing the third, the aggressors' fire suddenly intensified.  Specialist Fontaine threw himself on the man to protect him and was mortally wounded by the enemy fusillade, but saved the life of his stricken comrade.  Specialist Four Fontaine's 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.