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PVT William Jackson's citation for the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded for his actions on March: Image

PVT WILLIAM JACKSON'S CITATION FOR THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, AWARDED FOR HIS ACTIONS ON MARCH 15, 1969.

Awarded to PVT William Jackson

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(Not an Exact Copy)

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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, Americal Division
APO San Francisco 96374

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GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER   1855


May 23, 1969

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AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

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1.  TC 320.  The following AWARD is announced.

JACKSON, WILLIAM, XXX-XX-XXXX, PRIVATE,
Company C, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Americal Division,


Awarded:  Distinguished Service Cross
Date action:  March 15, 1969
Theater:  Republic of Vietnam

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Reason: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Jackson, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Company C, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division. Private Jackson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 March 1969 during a combat sweep operation near the village of Tap An Bac, approximately twenty miles southeast of Quang Ngai City. While his unit was making its way through thick underbrush, hedgerows, and clusters of bamboo, several small groups of North Vietnamese soldiers were spotted. Searching the dense terrain, Specialist Jackson saw four enemy troops moving to a bunker and immediately opened fire, single-handedly killing all four and capturing their weapons. As his element continued forward, it came under fire from a hostile fortification that wounded the radio-telephone operator. Private Jackson courageously exposed himself to the communists to draw their attention and to place accurate return fire, enabling two men to rescue the casualty. When he and his comrades were securing the area so the wounded man could be evacuated, they started to receive heavy fire from another enemy position. Shooting his rifle and hurling hand grenades, Private Jackson made a direct assault on the stronghold and succeeded in silencing it. An ambulance helicopter began to land but was engulfed by enemy fire. Private Jackson braved a hail of bullets to engage the aggressors and was mortally wounded by the hostile fusillade. Private Jackson'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.

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Authority:  By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918.

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An electronic copy of this citation was provided by Leslie Hines, Vietnam Historian for the Americal Division Veterans Association (ADVA). The information for this citation was researched and prepared by Bruce Swander from thousands of orders for the Vietnam era Distinguished Service Cross recipients. The ADVA, the Hill 4-11 Association, and the www.hill4-11.org Web site are grateful for this information.

PVT William Jackson's citation for the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded for his actions on March: List
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