The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Major (Infantry) Ben G. Crosby, Jr., United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. Major Crosby distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry in action on 24 February 1971 while serving as District Senior Advisor, Nghia Hanh District, Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam. At 0730 hours on this date, Regional Force Company 111 was ambushed by a large North Vietnamese force. Major Crosby secured the aid of three American advisors and personally led an assault against an entrenched North Vietnamese Army platoon. Determining that his forces had overrun a platoon which was acting as security for a larger enemy element, Major Crosby quickly grasped the initiative and called gunship support to engage the larger enemy position. Within minutes after the gunships were directed to attack the enemy position, Major Crosby personally encouraged and led a Montagnard Company across an open rice paddy under a withering hail of enemy fire. As his force reached the enemy positions, Major Crosby’s command element became pinned down by an anti-aircraft machine gun. Major Crosby crawled to within ten feet of the machine gun position and threw a smoke grenade into the machine gun hole, simultaneously directing a light observation helicopter to the position. The helicopter unsuccessfully engaged the position and received several hits from the enemy weapon. Major Crosby then rushed behind the enemy position, forcing the gunners to abandon their weapon, and shot one of the escaping North Vietnamese. At that time, enemy fire became extremely intense and forced the Americans and Montagnards to abandon their positions. Sensing the apprehension of the Montagnards, he personally covered the retreat with small arms fire. After regrouping his forces, Major Crosby again led the exhausted allied troops against the position, swept over it, and consolidated for a possible counter attack. Major Crosby’s conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Major (Infantry)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
35th Infantry RegimentDivision:
`Action Date:
November 1966 – October 1967
Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam, General Orders No. 5402 (October 23, 1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Major (Infantry) Ben G. Crosby, Jr., United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in the Republic of Vietnam from November 1966 to October 1967.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Major (Infantry)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
35th Infantry RegimentDivision:
4th Infantry DivisionAction Date:
August 22, 1967
Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 1905 (May 11, 1968)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Infantry) Ben G. Crosby, Jr., United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Major Crosby distinguished himself while serving as Battalion S-3 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. On 22 August 1968, the provisional reaction platoon of the 3d Brigade was initiating a combat assault into a suspected enemy base camp north of Duc Pho. Major Crosby, appraised of the situation, immediately became airborne, flying over the embattled area. Realizing that the platoon was having difficulty Major Crosby landed his ship to assist in the hostile action. He quickly organized search and security elements in order to thoroughly check the hedgerows. Within ten minutes, a Viet Cong was wounded and captured. Simultaneously, Major Crosby found a trap door to a tunnel and captured a second Viet Cong. After interrogating the prisoners, Major Crosby moved to a concealed, enemy-infested hole. Nearing the enemy inside and realizing that additional prisoners would provide more valuable information to help his mission, Major Crosby called several Vietnamese phrases to them demanding their surrender. As a result, three enemy soldiers were captured. With thorough interrogation, the enemy revealed that three other areas where enemy guerrillas were hiding. During the remaining search, Major Crosby found another concealed enemy tunnel and began assaulting the position, rendering the enemy fire ineffective, and capturing two more insurgents and a weapon. By his expert leadership and extraordinary courage, the enemy platoon was destroyed and valuable equipment captured. Major Crosby’s professional skill and exemplary 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.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Major (Infantry)Action Date:
January 1968 – July 1970
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Major (Infantry) Ben G. Crosby, Jr., (ASN: 0-83182), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the period January 1968 to July 1970, while serving as a member of the Special Operations Branch, Joint Operations Division, Doctrine Directorate, Headquarters, United States Army Combat Developments Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Major Crosby was the driving force behind the development of joint riverine doctrine, joint doctrine for amphibious operations, doctrine for the air cushion vehicle, the development of the Airmobile Test Program, Post-Vietnam, and the broad concept of the Integrated Battlefield Control System. The Airmobile Test Program-Post Vietnam, and the Integrated Battlefield Control System were two of the Combat Development Command’s highest priority actions. As Combat Developments Command’s spokesman for the Integrated Battlefield Control System, Major Crosby has won for the Army the acceptance of the new concept. Approved by the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army as the framework to guide the future development of the entire system, this concept will guide force design toward a more responsive command and control system. Major Crosby’s outstanding work on the Airmobile Test Program, Post-Vietnam, and the Integrated Battlefield Control System has made a lasting impression on the entire Army. These two actions, coupled with the savvy Major Crosby has provided the Command, will shape our Army of the 1970’s and 1980’s. His service reflects great credit upon himself, the United States Army Combat Developments Command, and the military service.