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 Sergeant First Class Walter Milo Hetzler, 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 Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Hetzler distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 12 to 15 April 1970 while leading an allied reaction element in an effort to recapture a strategically located hill within the boundaries of Dak Pek Special Forces Camp. Shortly after an aggressive enemy assault overtook the vital hilltop, Sergeant Hetzler and his platoon were inserted by helicopter into the area to recapture the hill. During the following four-day period, he personally led five aggressive assaults up the fire-swept incline. Although greatly hampered in his advance by a maze of barbed wire and intense enemy fire, the sergeant continued to probe toward the enemy positions in an untiring effort to overrun the enemy. Throughout the attack, he continuously moved his wounded comrades to covered positions while simultaneously maneuvering his men into more effective assault positions. Although wounded on two occasions, Sergeant Hetzler refused to be medically evacuated and continued his determined leadership. On the fifth allied attempt to break the enemy’s defenses, the sergeant successfully led his men to the enemy fighting positions and personally eliminated ten bunkers in vicious close range fighting. Stunned by the intensity of Sergeant Hetzler’s attack, the enemy broke contact and fled the hill to the surrounding jungle area. Then, refusing to abandon the hill, Sergeant Hetzler remained with his men to resist the ensuing enemy counterattacks. Ignoring the fusillade of enemy fire, the sergeant moved to a destroyed allied mortar bunker and carried critically needed ammunition to nearby mortar positions. Sergeant Hetzler’s determined actions were directly responsible for the successful overrunning of the enemy force and the securing of the strategically located hill. Sergeant First Class Hetzler’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.