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 Captain (Infantry) Raymond Victor Blanford (ASN: 0-2289306), 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 A, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Captain Blanford distinguished himself on 11 June 1966 while serving a Commanding Officer during a company search and destroy operations near Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam. During the late morning hours, two of Captain Blanford’s platoons took up blocking positions several hundred meters north of the battalion base camp while Captain Blanford, his third platoon, and a platoon of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Forces were heli-lifted to a landing zone north of the blocking position to begin sweeping operations to the south. Immediately after assuming their position, the blocking forces made contact with a large Viet Cong force. After being informed of the situation, Captain Blanford moved his forces south to complete the north extension of a horseshoe which circled the hostile force at the base of a hill. At this time, Captain Blanford, with complete disregard for his safety, repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to effectively direct friendly artillery fire on the positions of the insurgents. He then dauntlessly led his forces in an assault on the hostile emplacements. During the course of action, the Viet Cong increased their fire. When intense hostile fire met the advancing American and Vietnamese troops, Captain Blanford halted the assault and called in additional artillery fire. Coordinating the fire with extraordinary precision, he initiated a second assault. As he advanced up the hill in the wake of exploding mortar rounds, Captain Blanford was seriously wounded in the right eye. Despite intense pain, he continued to direct his men. He refused medical evacuation until reinforcements arrived to assist in the assault and the battalion commander was briefed on the operation. Captain Blanford’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.