By Direction

of the

President of the United States

the

Distinguished Service Cross

Is Awarded 

to

 Noah C. Collier

(Posthumously)

Rank and Organization:  Private First Class  

Date and Place:  26 October 1966, 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 Collier distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 October 1966 while serving with elements of the 8th Cavalry on a search and destroy mission along the Song An Loa River.  Fater his squad had flushed out several Viet Cong from tunnels along the river bank, Private Collier and two other men escorted the prisoners back to the platoon.. Returning to continue the search, he heard a burst of hostile machine gun fire which severely wounded his squad leader, knocking him under the swift current.  Undaunted, Private Collier swam twenty meters through a barrage of bullets to where the soldier had fallen.  Disregarding his safety, he then discarded his weapon and fearlessly dove under water in an attempt to save his stricken comrade.  Surfacing amid devastating enemy fire splattering the water around him, Private Collier shouted that he could not find the wounded man.  As he started to diver under the water again he was fatally wounded by Viet Cong machine gun fire.  Demonstrating boundless courage and selfless concern for the welfare of the others, he sacrificed his own life in a valiant effort to save a fellow soldier.  Private First Class Collier'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.