Distinguished Service Cross

DSC For Heroism In War Zone C Awarded To Manchu Platoon Leader CU CHI - A 25th Infantry Division platoon leader has received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award for heroism, for his actions during a helicopter extraction operation in War Zone C. The award was presented to First Lieutenant Hector E. Colon from Chicago, Ill., by Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor during ceremonies at Cu Chi.
Lieutenant Colon had just completed a reconnaissance-in-force mission with his platoon from Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, and was awaiting extraction when his men came under heavy rocket, mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire from an estimated 400 Viet Cong. Colon quickly positioned his men to repel the advancing enemy. During the initial attack, his radio operator was wounded and the radio damaged. Colon secured another set to direct artillery fire and air strikes on the Viet Cong, sometimes to within five meters of his position. Colon killed five enemy soldiers who tried to overrun the platoon's perimeter. As the firing subsided, he supervised the evacuation of casualties, made sure the rest of his men were extracted, and insured all weapons and equipment were recovered. His leadership was directly responsible for routing the numerically superior Viet Cong.

FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM - Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor presents the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant Hector E. Colon during ceremonies at Cu Chi. Colon's leadership was directly responsible for routing an estimated 400 Viet Cong in War Zone C.