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 Private First Class Stanley C. Goff (ASN: US-56835616), 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 B, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Private First Class Goff distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 25 August 1968 as a machine gunner with his infantry company during a sweep and clear operation being conducted jointly with an armored cavalry troop eight miles northwest of Tam Ky. As his platoon emerged from a wooded hill into an open rice paddy, it came under intense recoilless rifle, machine gun, automatic weapons and small arms fire from North Vietnamese Army troops thirty meters to its right. Realizing that his company was in danger of suffering heavy casualties, Private Goff courageously exposed himself to the communists and advanced on the recoilless rifle. Braving a hail of bullets he reached a vantage point, stood up, and eliminated the position with a burst from his machine gun. Completely disregarding his safety, he then charged the hostile emplacements while providing a continuous base of fire for his fellow soldiers to follow. Before the force of approximately one hundred and eighty enemy troops were driven from their entrenched positions, he was personally responsible for killing thirty communists and capturing a large number of weapons. Private First Class Goff’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.