By Direction

of the

President of the United States

The

Distinguished Service Cross

Is Awarded

To

Charles R. Lose

Rank and Unit:  Specialist Five, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division

Date and Place:  24 November 1968,  Republic of Vietnam

Reason:  Specialist Five Charles R. Lose distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on 14 November and 15 November 1965 in La Darang Valley, Republic of Vietnam while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division.  As a Medical Aidman, Specialist Lose was serving with the Second Platoon of Company B when the Platoon became pinned down by an intense assault from a battalion size Viet Cong force and then cut off from the remainder of the Company for a period of twenty-six hours.  As the enemy's deadly and heavy automatic weapons and small fire inflicted several casualties on the Platoon during the initial attack, Specialist Lose bravely moved through the hail of gun fire to care for the wounded.  although he was wounded in the foot by grenade fragments during one of his courageous moves to reach a fallen comrade, he continued to administer to the wounded by crawling from man to man dragging his aid kit with him. When his medical supplies became exhausted, he demonstrated rare ingenuity and determination by fashioning bandages from C-ration resources.  He colleted water from the canteens of the dead for distribution to the wounded.  Again and again, he crawled across the open area and exposed himself to the intense hostile fire to give first aid to the wounded, often using his own body as a shield for the protection of his fellow soldiers.  On the following day when a relief force reached the beleaguered unit, he refused to be evacuated until all of the wounded were taken to safety.  Specialist Lose's conspicuous gallantry, his extraordinary heroism on the battlefield, and his deep concern for his fellow soldiers are in the highest traditions of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of his country.