Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    60th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    9th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    April 29, 1969

    Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2524 (July 12, 1969)

    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 Private First Class Lester Earl Downing, 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 C, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Private First Class Downing distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 29 April 1969 while serving as a rifleman on a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Ap Than Hue in Long An Province. When his platoon came under ambush, he immediately alerted the rest of the unit and proceeded to lay down suppressive fire on the enemy entrenchments. Spotting a wounded comrade, Private Downing ran across a bullet-swept rice paddy to give medical treatment, disregarding the grenades that exploded nearby. Although his rifle had been struck by an enemy bullet and rendered inoperable, he took the wounded man’s weapon and charged the hostile fortification, killing two of its occupants. He plunged into the bunker and attacked a third communist in hand-to-hand combat. During the ensuing struggle he was shot, but managed to overcome his enemy before succumbing to his wounds. Private First Class Downing’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.

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