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 Thomas S. Pease (ASN: RA-16753725), 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 F (Ranger), 75th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Pease distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 March 1969, as Assistant Team Leader on an ambush patrol Sergeant Pease’s team came under devastating enemy fire which killed two men and wounded four others. Exposing himself to the deadly barrage, he ran to the casualties and was hit in the abdomen by hostile rifle fire as he approached the fallen point man. Despite his painful injury, he grabbed the point man and had almost succeeded in pulling him to the patrol’s defensive perimeter when an enemy hand grenade landed a few feet away. Disregarding his own safety, Sergeant Pease threw himself on the grenade. Several moments passed and there was no explosion. Realizing t hat the device had malfunctioned, he brought his injured comrade to the safety of their unit’s position. Sergeant Pease’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.