(Not an Exact Copy)
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GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 3906 |
October 18, 1969 |
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced.
SCHOLTUS, DAVID, XXX-XX-XXXX, SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS,
Company B, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Americal Division,
Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross
Date action: July 19, 1969
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
| Reason: | The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to David Scholtus, Specialist Fourth Class, 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 B, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division. Specialist Four Scholtus distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 July 1969 when his company and a sister unit became pinned down by heavy fire from a well-entrenched enemy force. Despite the support of gunship and tactical air strikes, the two infantry companies were unable to gain ground or dislodge the enemy from their positions. Directing his squad to place down a heavy base of fire, Specialist Scholtus rushed across thirty meters of open terrain to engage an enemy position. Although subjected to intense volumes of hostile fire, he destroyed the enemy emplacement with rifle fire and hand grenades. He then maneuvered under fire to within twenty feet of a second enemy position. After hurling a grenade to suppress the defenders' fire, he charged the emplacement and silenced its occupants. The stalemate broken by his bold actions, the infantry companies were now free to advance and sweep over the enemy force. Specialist Four Scholtus' 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. |
| Authority: | By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918. |
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 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.
Award graphics courtesy of The Institute of Heraldry
