The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class Ronald Eugene Pongratz, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Specialist Four Pongratz distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 and 18 April 1969 while serving as a vehicle commander during a reconnaissance-in-force mission. As his armored vehicle team was moving through the jungles north of Dau Tieng in Tay Ninh Province on 13 April, an enemy force initiated a mortar and automatic weapons assault from a series of concealed fortifications. Specialist Pongratz quickly directed his vehicle to lay a base of suppressive fire while the team began an on-line assault and overran the bunker complex. Specialist Pongratz was leading a dismounted sweep when suddenly a hostile soldier threw a grenade into the midst of the team. He grabbed the device and threw it away. Although the explosion inflicted shrapnel wounds to his arm he fired on and killed the enemy. Declining evacuation, Specialist Pongratz stayed with the mission, and on the morning of 18 April, another hostile bunker system was encountered and overrun. As Specialist Pongratz was conducting the right flank of a dismounted sweep, an enemy emplacement opened fire pinning down several men. Rushing the position, he tossed a grenade which silenced it. Then, as another bunker attacked the team, Specialist Pongratz charged the fortification. Despite being struck by rifle fire, he continued to crawl toward the bunker into which he delivered another grenade, ending the hostile resistance. Specialist Four Pongratz’ extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.