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 Carroll Vernon Crain (ASN: RA-18432362), 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, 19th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Sergeant First Class Crain distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 December 1966 while serving as chief of an artillery element during a massive Viet Cong attack in Binh Dinh Province. The two insurgent battalions began their attack with a mortar, recoilless rifle, and machine gun barrage which swept the camp. Although he sustained serious wounds in his left hand and right leg, Sergeant Crain raced through the intense fire to a howitzer position and began firing high explosive shells directly into the onrushing waves of insurgents. Fearlessly working while silhouetted against the flames of an ammunition blaze, he shouted rallying cries heard throughout the battery position. Exposing himself again to the hostile barrage, Sergeant Crain encouraged the men fighting the ammunition fire, then returned to the howitzer and resumed his fire. Although he was losing blood constantly and gradually weakening, when the men were forced to withdraw to another defensive point, Sergeant Crain helped evacuate other casualties, then seized a rifle and killed three insurgents in close fighting. He again refused medical treatment, assisted in rallying the men for a counterattack, and moved back into the unit’s forward positions to clear them of Viet Cong. Sergeant First Class Crain’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.