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 Major General John Hancock Hay, Jr. (ASN: 0-25290), 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry Division. Major General Hay distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 April 1967 while repulsing a heavy enemy assault on units of his command. An estimated reinforced regiment of Viet Cong launched an intensive mortar attack on the night defensive position of elements of two battalions at Landing Zone George. Several hundred mortar rounds savagely pounded the friendly position. Upon receiving word of the action, General Hay alerted his helicopter crew, briefed them, and flew to the scene. As he arrived, the Viet Cong were pressing a fierce ground attack. He immediately called for the support of additional flareships, forward air controllers, and light fire teams. Ignoring intensive automatic weapons and machine gun fire directed at his aircraft, General Hay instructed his pilot to make extremely low passes while he marked insurgent weapons positions and troop concentrations with smoke. Incoming artillery rounds, explosions on the ground, and relentless hostile fire made low passes over the battle site extremely hazardous. With complete disregard for his safety, General Hay continued his flights over the area to observe all movements of the hostile force and adjust friendly fires accordingly. As a result of his daring actions, the Viet Cong advance was halted and the friendly forces were able to counterattack and reestablish their perimeter. The insurgents attempted two more assaults on the perimeter, and again General Hay directed all friendly fires from the air. As ground fog cleared, he called in tactical air strikes which inflicted severe casualties on the Viet Cong force and caused the insurgents to break contact and flee into the jungle. General Hay then ordered his pilot to fly low over the retreating hostile force, and he directed the interdiction of the Viet Cong escape routes. His aggressive pursuit of the enemy, while continually subjected to concentrated machine gun and small arms fire, was responsible for causing further heavy casualties to the Viet Cong. His inspiring leadership was a deciding factor in the overwhelming rout of a main force Viet Cong regiment, and the enemy unit was rendered ineffective for other aggression. Major General Hay’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.