Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Specialist Fourth Class

    Batallion:

    6th Battalion

    Regiment:

    31st Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    9th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    May 10 – 12, 1968

    Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 5036 (October 31, 1968)

    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 Specialist Fourth Class Dennis Keith Jones (ASN: US-56587454), 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 B, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Jones distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 to 12 May 1968 while serving as forward observer for an infantry company in the Cholon area of Saigon. His unit was engaged in fierce house-to-house fighting, and Specialist Jones repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to call in gunships and direct their strikes by throwing smoke grenades into the midst of enemy locations. On 12 May the first platoon was pinned down by a large Viet Cong force. After calling in artillery and gunships, Specialist Jones led a fire team in an assault against the heavily fortified enemy positions, personally killing two of the communists with rifle fire. Then, to save his team which had become trapped under the intense enemy fusillade, he charged four bunkers and destroyed them with hand grenades. As he was about to throw another grenade, he was mortally wounded by enemy small arms fire. His actions enabled his comrades to regroup and overrun the aggressors. Specialist Four Jones’ 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.