By Direction

of the

President of the United States

The

Distinguished Service Cross

Is Awarded

To

Jack Sanderson

(Posthumously)

Rank and Unit:  Private First Class, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division

Date and Place:  24 November 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:  Private First Class Sanderson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 24 November 1968 while serving as a medical aidman during a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Tan Tru.  As his platoon approached a dense woodline it came under a sudden barrage of hostile fire.  Two of his comrades were wounded and fell in an area completely exposed to the enemy gunners.  Private Sanderson courageously moved forward through the fusillade to one of the casualties and, in full view of the communists' emplacement, began to administer first aid.  When the man died in spite of his efforts, Private Sanderson, disregarding his safety, chargted across the open rice paddy to where the other injured soldier lay.  While he was treating this man, an element from his platoon moved to engage the enemy bunker and was fired upon from a previously undetected position, resulting in several more wounded.  Once again he braved the hostile fire and went to their aid.  As he went from man to man, searching for survivors, he was seriously wounded by enemy rifle fire.  Despite sever pain and rapid loss of blood, he managed to drag himself up to the last soldier.  Finding that none of the men were alive, he started crawling back to his unit's location, but died from his wounds before he reached safety.  Private First Class Sanderson'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.