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 Lieutenant (Infantry) Michael F. Graham, 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 D, 3d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Graham distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 5 through 7 March 1969 while leading a platoon on military operations west of Kontum in the Central Highlands. For three days while his platoon acted as a blocking force on the eastern slope of the hill his company occupied, Lieutenant Graham directed and deployed his men to counter the constant hostile mortar and rocket attacks and ground assaults on his platoon’s position. Once, after a concentrated enemy push had forced his men to fall back, Lieutenant Graham personally led a counterassault to regain the lost ground. Crawling forward through a tempest of automatic weapons and grenade fire, he approached a hostile emplacement and threw a grenade on target. Receiving small arms fire from the position, he immediately tossed another grenade and charged the entrenchment firing an automatic burst from his rifle which silenced the enemy. Then, seeing one of his men lying wounded and exposed to hostile fire, he maneuvered across the bullet-strafed field to drag his comrade to safety. First Lieutenant Graham’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.