By Direction

of the

President of the United States

the

Distinguished Service Cross

Is Awarded 

to

Ronald S. Taylor

Rank and Organization:  First Lieutenant Infantry, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

Date and Place:  7 January 1968

Reason:  For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:  First Lieutenant Taylor distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 January 1968 as acting executive officer of his company during a mission in the Que Son Valley.  His unit became engaged in heavy fighting with a reinforced North Vietnamese battalion.  As the battle developed, Lieutenant Taylor and an element of fifty men became surrounded by the hostile forces.  He immediately made two attempts to break the enemy’s encirclement, but both were driven back by stiff resistance.  Lieutenant Taylor then ordered his men, twenty of whom were already wounded, into a hasty defensive perimeter.  Constantly exposing himself to the continuing North Vietnamese fusillade, he moved from position to position as he called for and adjusted a concentrated ring of friendly artillery fire around his troops’ location.  The determined enemy repeatedly assaulted the defenders, attempting to overrun them.  Each attack was successfully repulsed by Lieutenant Taylor’s skillful adjustment of coordinated artillery barrages and the small arms and automatic weapons fire of his men.  For more than twenty-six hours he successfully directed the defense of the position, inflicting heavy casualties on the North Vietnamese.  First Lieutenant Taylor’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.