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 Alfred L. Porter, 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 Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Porter distinguished himself while serving as a tank commander when his troop encountered a large Viet Cong and North Vietnamese force near Quan Loi. A sister platoon had earlier established a blocking force across enemy travel routes, and when the enemy opened fire with rocket-propelled grenade fire, Specialist Porter quickly directed his tank toward the position of the beleaguered platoon. Unleashing main-gun salvos,, he silenced several hostile emplacements. As he advanced toward further enemy positions, his tank turret received a direct hit from a rocket grenade which wounded Specialist Porter and knocked his driver unconscious. The tank careened into a rubber tree and burst into flames. When Specialist Porter and the crew abandoned the vehicle and headed back to the troop’s position, the enemy concentrated their fire on them. Although injured again before he reached the troop, he checked on his crew members. Discovering that one man had fallen to enemy fire, he charged back into the strafing fusillade to drag his comrade to safety. Specialist Four Porter’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.