The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Second Lieutenant] Michael B. Ranger, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while assigned to Company E, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division during the period 4 to 6 March 1969. During this period, with eight men Captain Ranger engaged a massed enemy force and aborted their attack. Captain Ranger met the charge of the enemy and killed two of them with rifle fire, knocking out a machinegun position and carrying a wounded soldier back to the patrol base. While directing airstrikes, artillery, and gunships, he was wounded and blown into the air by an enemy mortar round which landed at his feet. Despite painful wounds in his leg and arm he refused medical attention and continued to control supporting fires and direct the actions of his platoon. In the early hours of 5 March an estimated North Vietnamese battalion launched an assault against the platoon. Under a rain of rockets and mortars Captain Ranger called in artillery rounds on his own position as the enemy force entered the perimeter. Captain Ranger killed two North Vietnamese soldiers in front of his position and three more on top of his bunker. The following day while the patrol base was receiving small arms and mortar fire, Captain Ranger killed four snipers in the trees and two North Vietnamese soldiers in bunkers while sustaining wounds to his arm. He then directed airstrikes and artillery into the remaining enemy while his troops were being extracted from the landing zone and refused to leave the ground until all of his men were aboard the helicopters. Captain Ranger’s decisiveness, vigorous leadership, sound judgment, and personal bravery instilled courage and determination into his platoon, enabling them to hold off and destroy a superior enemy force. Captain Ranger’s conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. [This award supersedes award of the Silver Star (First Oak Leaf Cluster) awarded to Captain Ranger for gallantry in action during the period 4 – 6 March 1969, as announced in General Orders Number 1117, dated 13 April 1969, Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division APO San Francisco 96262.