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 Private First Class Phillip V. Shortman, 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, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Shortman distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 August 1969 while serving as a rifleman during a mission to establish a forward patrol base near Hieu Thien. After his unit had been airlifted into the landing zone and had begun to move away, an enemy force opened fire from the cover of a hedgerow, pinning the company down. Observing how the hostile fire was decimating his platoon, Private Shortman crawled forward through the fusillade to within fifteen meters of the enemy and tossed a grenade into a spiderhole bunker. As he moved back to his element’s position, he carried two wounded comrades from their exposed location and immediately rendered first aid. As the deadly hail of hostile fire continued to riddle the area, Private Shortman again crawled forward in the face of the enemy to recover an M-60 machine gun left by a casualty. After a second perilous trip to secure ammunition, he commenced to unleash a devastating barrage which enabled the casualties to be evacuated and caused the enemy to flee. Private First Class Shortman’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.