The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Donald B. Montgomery (ASN: 0-5341469), United States 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 E, 4th Battalion, 3d Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Montgomery distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 September 1968 as platoon leader during a combat operation near Phuoc Loc. While advancing in two columns, his element came under intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. Lieutenant Montgomery crawled across two hundred meters of open rice paddy to join the column which was under heaviest attack. There he learned that two soldiers had been killed and lay extremely close to the hostile positions. He and his platoon sergeant succeeded in reaching their fallen comrades, but as they were returning with the bodies the platoon sergeant was mortally wounded by sniper fire. Ignoring the communists’ fusillade, Lieutenant Montgomery recovered all three casualties. He then directed armed helicopters to place suppressive fire on the aggressors, and after withdrawing his troops, skillfully directed air strikes which silenced the enemy position. While organizing helicopter extraction for his troops, he discovered that three soldiers were missing. Lieutenant Montgomery immediately left to search for the men and succeeded in locating them, but was severely wounded by enemy fire as he was leading them back to the platoon. Despite his wounds he engaged the aggressors with his rifle, killing three of the communists. Separated from his three companions during the fire fight, he again went to look for them but lost consciousness due to loss of blood and exhaustion. He was found several hours later after reinforcements arrived and forced the enemy to break contact. First Lieutenant Montgomery’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.