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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) John R. Robinson (ASN: 0-5336691), 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 A, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Second Lieutenant Robinson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 November 1967 while serving as platoon leader of an airborne infantry company on a search and destroy operation near Dak To. While setting up a perimeter atop Hill 882, his unit was heavily attacked on all sides by a reinforced North Vietnamese Army company firing automatic weapons, small arms and grenades. Lieutenant Robinson was wounded by grenade fragments as he moved to direct the fires of his men, but refused aid and helped evacuate a wounded comrade. The hostile force advanced as close as three meters to his perimeter, and he delivered deadly fire into the attackers which silenced several automatic weapons and forced a momentary lull in the assault. As he called for a machine gun to replace one that had been destroyed, the enemy renewed the vicious attack with anti-tank weapons, penetrated a portion of the perimeter, and knocked out his remaining machine gun. Although wounded again by a rocket, Lieutenant Robinson maneuvered his men into a blocking position, trapping and killing the insurgents inside the perimeter and forcing those outside to withdraw. Bleeding severely from a third wound, he crawled forward of his lines to search for a missing squad leader and was pinned down by withering machine gun and automatic weapons fire. He destroyed the machine gun with grenades and demolished another position with deadly rifle fire. Returning to his own lines, he quickly directed the evacuation of his wounded men and continued to refuse aid for his own wounds until he had secured his perimeter for the night. Second Lieutenant Robinson’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.