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 Sergeant First Class Kenneth Soares Andrade (ASN: RA-29045072), 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, 3d Battalion, 12th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Platoon Sergeant Andrade distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 February 1968 as acting platoon leader during an attack on his unit’s perimeter near Dak To. While providing defense for the battalion fire base, his unit was subjected to a savage ground assault by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Sergeant Andrade exposed himself to deadly automatic weapons, grenade and small arms fire and moved around his perimeter shouting commands, pointing out targets and giving words of encouragement to his men. As he rose to move one of the more seriously wounded men to the ambulance helicopter landing zone, an enemy grenade landed near him. Sergeant Andrade picked up the grenade and threw it back at several enemy soldiers who were firing from behind a large tree to his front. He then picked up the wounded man and carried him across the perimeter to the landing zone under a hail of bullets. As he returned to the fight, a grenade exploded nearby, mortally wounding him. His valiant and selfless leadership inspired his men to greater efforts and they defeated the determined enemy. Platoon Sergeant Andrade’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.