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 Staff Sergeant Mark Travis Ridley (ASN: RA-18611697), 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, 22d Infantry, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Staff Sergeant Ridley distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 and 2 January 1968 as an infantry patrol leader. Sergeant Ridley had positioned his twelve-man unit near a trail approximately eight hundred meters from the fire support base it was protecting. When the base came under an intense night mortar attack, Sergeant Ridley observed the source of the hostile fire and immediately called counterfire on the enemy gun positions. Moments later he observed the first wave of enemy ground troops moving past his position toward the fire support base and he quickly alerted the camp of the impending assault. He then moved his team into a defensive position. As the insurgents closed on the support base’s perimeter and his patrol’s position, he called supporting artillery and mortar fire on the enemy, at times to within fifteen meters of his own location. Although surrounded throughout the attack, he continued to radio a steady stream of information to the besieged camp, while successfully directing the defensive fires of his men. Sergeant Ridley’s personal bravery and exemplary leadership contributed significantly to the defeat of a determined enemy force. Staff Sergeant Ridley’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.