The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Chief Warrant Officer (WO-2) Gerald Leroy McKinsey, Jr. (ASN: W-3155085), 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 282d Assault Helicopter Company, 212th Combat Aviation Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Chief Warrant Officer McKinsey distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 January 1968 as pilot of an assault helicopter on a combat mission near Khe Sanh. When the Hung Hoa district headquarters came under heavy enemy attack, Mister McKinsey volunteered to fly the lead troop transport helicopter because of his familiarity with the area. Gunships fired a preparatory barrage on the landing zone, and he flew in to unload his infantrymen. As the skids touched the ground, North Vietnamese Army soldiers surrounding the landing zone stood up and unleashed a furious barrage on his aircraft from point blank range. His ship was hit by recoilless rifle fire as he attempted to take off, and it crashed in flames. Braving withering fire, Mister McKinsey exited the burning helicopter, took up an exposed position and delivered heavy counterfire on the advancing enemy to cover a comrade attempting to free a body from the wreckage. A rescue helicopter came into the landing zone but was driven off by the enemy fusillade. As the craft departed, its crew chief jumped to the ground and began to maneuver toward Mister McKinsey’s downed ship. Disregarding his personal safety, Mister McKinsey gallantly moved into an even more exposed position and covered the soldier’s dash to safety. The enemy troops continued their ravaging attack, and he fearlessly fought to hold them off until he was struck and killed by an enemy bullet. Chief Warrant Officer McKinsey’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.