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 Jesse J. Parker (ASN: US-52650803), 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 C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Specialist Four Parker distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 June 1967 while serving with an airborne infantry platoon on a search and destroy mission near Duc Pho. The lead elements of his platoon were savagely ambushed by a large Viet Cong force firing machine guns and automatic weapons while moving through dense jungle terrain. One of his comrades was killed and two others were seriously wounded ten meters from the enemy lines by the intense barrage, but Specialist Parker completely disregarded his own safety and dashed to carry the casualties to cover. He sprinted through a hail of ravaging fire, to retrieve the machine gunner and carried him to his own lines. Heedless of the intensifying insurgent barrage, he ran back to within ten meters of the enemy positions and picked up the machine gun. After carrying the gun to his perimeter, he returned once more with a comrade to carry another wounded man out of the dangerous area. Deadly enemy fire cut down his assistant, but he refused to take cover and carried the man back to the platoon. Again risking his life, he moved alone through the bullet-swept battleground to remove the final casualty from the firing zone. In the midst of the raging firefight he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy weapons to return time after time and retrieve equipment left by his fallen comrades. His uncommon bravery under fire resulted in his saving the lives of at least two comrades and inspired the men around him to fight furiously against the overwhelming onslaught and defeat the determined Viet Cong attackers. Specialist Four Parker’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.