DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
Sgt. David J. Lindsay

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam
APO San Francisco 96375

GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 1579

AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

TC 439. The following AWARD is announced.

LINDSAY, DAVID J SERGEANT United States Army Company E 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), APO 96383.
Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross
Date of action: 23 to 24 January 1970
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 25 July 1963.

Reason: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Sergeant Lindsay distinguished himself while serving as a team leader of a six man reconnaissance patrol in Binh Dinh Province. While set up in a night defense perimeter, Sergeant Lindsay's patrol came under heavy attack by an estimated platoon size force of North Vietnamese regulars. He quickly led his team to the cover of a nearby boulder formation and then engaged the enemy. From an unprotected position atop a boulder, Sergeant Lindsay directed supporting artillery fire which successfully silenced the enemy attack for the remainder of the night. By morning the enemy force had received reinforcements and resumed the attack on Sergeant Lindsay's position. Sergeant Lindsay dashed to within fifteen meters of the enemy to retrieve badly needed ammunition, at the same time drawing enemy fire so that the supporting helicopter gunships could pinpoint the enemy positions. during the ensuing battle, he repeatedly moved out to engage the enemy, throwing hand grenades while directing and encouraging his men. While moving forward to set up a claymore mine, enemy small arms fire struck a smoke grenade which he had fastened to his leg. Despite the pain caused by the ignited grenade, he detonated the mine and silenced the enemy fire in that vicinity. Learning that a comrade had been wounded and realizing that the enemy now had the team completely surrounded, he directed helicopter gunships to fire extremely close to his team and unselfishly threw his own body over the wounded man to protect him. The gunfire proved effective and forced the enemy to flee. Sergeant Lindsay'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.

FOR THE COMMANDER:

Verne L. Bowers

Brigadier General, US Army
Acting Chief of Staff