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 W. Townsend (ASN: US-55830321), 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 B, 2d Battalion, 77th Field Artillery, 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Fourth Class Townsend distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 March 1967 while serving as member of a battalion reaction force during a massive Viet Cong attack on an artillery base near Suoi Tre. At the onset of the attack, Specialist Townsend’s unit moved out to reinforce the infantry on the perimeter. The perimeter force began to fall back under the surge of hundreds of Viet Cong. Specialist Townsend noticed a wounded man who had been left behind and returned to the original perimeter line, under intense fire, to carry him back to safety. A few minutes later, an enemy recoilless rifle protected by a machine gun began to fire on the battalion command post. Specialist Townsend again advanced beyond the friendly lines through fields of intense fire until he was within hand grenade range of the hostile emplacement. He jumped to his feet in this bullet-swept area, in order to see the enemy position and destroyed both the recoilless rifle and its machine gun with a grenade. As he was moving back towards the perimeter, another machine gun began firing on the camp’s perimeter. He moved around and behind this weapon and also destroyed it with a single grenade. After returning to the friendly perimeter, Specialist Townsend received shrapnel wounds in his left thigh and left arm. He ignored these wounds and continued to fight until the Viet Cong had been decisively repulsed. Specialist Fourth Class Townsend’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.