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 Specialist Fourth Class Samuel Lee Pearson, 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 Battery C, 3d Battalion, 82d Artillery, Americal Division. Specialist Fourth Class Pearson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 September 1969 while serving as an artillery fire direction computer at a fire base in northern I Corps Tactical Zone. In the early morning hours of 11 September 1969, Specialist Pearson’s battery was assaulted by a large and well armed enemy force advancing under cover of intense rocket and mortar fire. As the first enemy rounds began impacting within the battery compound, Specialist Pearson left his bunker and took up a position with an M-60 machine gun before the fire direction center. Although inflicted with multiple fragmentation wounds moments later when a satchel charge was flung at his position by an enemy sapper, Specialist Pearson remained at his position and continued to ward off infiltrators from the vital fire direction center, and flame throwers moving toward the fire direction center, Specialist Pearson, his vision obscured by head wounds, leaped up, charged the intruders, and killed all five with bursts of machine gun fire. Specialist Pearson then returned to his defensive position, and refusing medical attention, he fought off enemy sappers and relayed observations of enemy movement to the fire direction center for more than four hours amid barrages of rocket and mortar fire. Only at first light, when he was sure that the enemy had been repulsed and that his position was secure, did Specialist Pearson permit himself to be evacuated and given medical care. Specialist Fourth Class Pearson’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.