The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Corps of Engineers) Luther McKindree Lasater, III, 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 the Troop F, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. On the afternoon of 13 February 1972, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, made contact with a force of undetermined size in a bunker complex, and requested that a Hunter-Killer team be sent to their assistance. The weather was clear and sunny and the terrain was thin, single canopy jungle with low, dense bamboo thickets and gently rolling hills. The enemy morale was high and they were protecting their positions by firing at all aircraft and personnel entering the area. When the Hunter-Killer team arrived on station, the mission commander coordinated with the ground unit and made rocket runs in his AH-1G to suppress the area. Then the OH-6A Scout aircraft, piloted by Captain Lasater, entered the contact area at treetop level to mark the enemy positions for the AH-1G to destroy. Captain Lasater flew through the area several times, each time taking heavy small arms and machine gun fire, before he was satisfied that he could put out an accurate mark. He then put out a white phosphorous grenade to mark the enemy positions for the Cobra, which made rocket runs as Captain Lasater moved away. At this time, an aerial field artillery section arrived on station fully armed and Captain Lasater, despite the heavy volume of enemy ground to air fire, offered to re-mark the enemy positions so their rockets would be of the most benefit to the ground unit. Captain Lasater entered the area and immediately became the target of the enemy gunners, who were able to hit his aircraft, shooting out his main generator. Captain Lasater, however, was not satisfied with his mark and returned to put another grenade on the location. On this pass, Captain Lasater’s aircraft was critically hit by enemy fire and crashed between the enemy and friendly ground unit. Specialist Fourth Class Keith A. Delahoy, Captain Lasater’s gunner, was able to escape the aircraft and made an attempt to rescue Captain Lasater. At that time, however, the aircraft exploded, burning Specialist Delahoy painfully and killing Captain Lasater. Because Captain Lasater’s actions diverted enemy fire, the command and control element of the company in contact was able to disengage from an untenable location where it was pinned down by enemy fire. The company command element thus obtained a superior command and control position from which to successfully direct the remaining battle. Captain Lasater’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.