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 Sergeant James A. Diamond (ASN: RA-16297699), 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, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. First Sergeant Diamond distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 6 February 1967 while serving with a company command group during a search and destroy mission near Thu Duc. When lead platoon of his company lost its platoon sergeant and three other men in an ambush by a Viet Cong company, First Sergeant Diamond immediately moved into the battle area to maintain the fighting effectiveness of his unit. While the Viet Cong were seizing weapons from the casualties lying on the field, he organized the friendly element and set up a base of fire which drove the insurgents back. Under intense fire, he moved to where the dead and wounded lay, covering and directing the evacuation from an exposed position. After all the wounded had been rescued, First Sergeant Diamond remained in his bullet swept location to guide air strikes into the hostile bunkers, although he himself was within range of the exploding aircraft shells. By his directions from this perilous position, First Sergeant Diamond was able to prevent greater losses by his own company, save the wounded that lay exposed to the Viet Cong weapons, and inflict many casualties on the insurgent force. First Sergeant Diamond’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.