Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 497 (February 1, 1967)
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 Paul Francis Smith (ASN: 0-33169), 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, 173d Airborne Brigade. Major General Smith distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 November 1966 while commanding the 173d Airborne Brigade on a search and destroy operation near Minh Thanh. Despite the extreme hazards involved, he boldly chose to visit a forward patrol base that had been under sniper and claymore mine attack for three days. At the time General Smith arrived, the perimeter was only manned by a skeleton force, but he insisted upon visiting the troops that were on line. Within ten minutes, two platoon patrols outside the camp were pinned down by a large Viet Cong force and the perimeter was again ravaged by intense hostile fire. Unmindful of the dangers, General Smith refused to take cover and calmly proceeded among the defenders, encouraging the men in their foxholes. Throughout the three-hour battle, he provided tactical advice to his subordinate commanders. At one point, the elements under severest attack were perilously low on ammunition, but because of devastating ground fire aerial re-supply was prevented. With complete disregard for his safety, General Smith fearlessly exposed himself to the hail of bullets and directed an armed helicopter strike on the charging Viet Cong. This courageous and timely action enabled the supply aircraft to land and allowed the besieged camp to finally repel the insurgent force. Later after the wounded had been evacuated, he conduced an aerial reconnaissance of the area an discovered a large cache of rice and supplies. His unimpeachable valor and profound concern for his men turned impending disaster into a major victory over a numerically superior hostile force. Major General Smith’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.