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 First Class William E. Bercaw, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, on 2 May 1970. Master Sergeant Bercaw distinguished himself while leading a four-vehicle armed convoy toward a rendezvous with forward allied elements located in Cambodia. Master Sergeant Bercaw was riding aboard the lead vehicle when a sudden burst of enemy fire swept through the lead element. The commander of the lead vehicle was mortally wounded by the fire and Master Sergeant Bercaw suffered a painful arm wound. Nevertheless, Master Sergeant Bercaw immediately assumed command of the vehicle and organized the confused crew into an effective fighting unit. While directing the fire of his men, he crawled across an exposed portion of his vehicle to man an automatic weapon. Although seriously wounded, he continued to fire the weapon until he exhausted his ammunition. He then secured the tank commander’s rifle and expended all available ammunition toward the enemy. During the entire contact, Master Sergeant Bercaw continuously exposed himself to the hail of enemy fire in order to direct the actions of his men and move the convoy out of the contact area. Although wounded three times, his determined actions enabled the convoy to depart the contact area while suffering only minimal casualties. Master Sergeant Bercaw’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.