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 Sergeant Richard A. Hendrick, 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 Command and Control (South), Task Force 1, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant Hendrick distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 April 1971 while serving as the team leader of a small reconnaissance patrol deployed deep within enemy controlled territory. After engaging a hostile force, Sergeant Hendrick deployed his men into a defensive perimeter. Returning to the point of initial contact, he retrieved two wounded allied soldiers and eliminated several enemy soldiers during the rescue mission. As the superior-size force launched an attack, Sergeant Hendrick exposed himself to the hostile fusillade in order to place accurate suppressive fire upon the attackers, repelling their advance. During the second attack, he was wounded by an enemy hand grenade. Ignoring his own wounds, Sergeant Hendrick continued to put devastating fire upon the foe. Summoning air support, he directed their fire upon the belligerent force. Then, as evacuation helicopters arrived, Sergeant Hendrick assisted two wounded soldiers in hooking up to extraction ropes from the hovering aircraft while under constant enemy fire. Sergeant Hendrick’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.