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 Major (Infantry) Juri Toomepuu (ASN: 0-2273837), 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 175th Aviation Company, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Major Toomepuu distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 March 1967 while serving as commander of a troop transport helicopter during an aerial assault on a large entrenched Viet Cong force near Vihn Long. Although intense fire greeted the lead helicopters entering the landing zone, Major Toomepuu calmly landed, discharged his troops, then skillfully maneuvered out of range of the enemy weapons. His aircraft had received many hits during the infiltration operation, but when it was decided to evacuate casualties from the ravaged battlefield, Major Toomepuu readily volunteered. Helicopters spread a screen of smoke in the area, but Viet Cong machine gunners were only 75 meters from the touch down point and constantly raked the zone with deadly fire. Heedless of his personal safety, he hovered around the field searching for disabled soldiers. Each time the smoke screen dissipated, enemy gunners poured intense fire at his aircraft and repeatedly succeeded in hitting it. Nevertheless, Major Toomepuu painstakingly searched the zone and found a wounded pilot, a downed crewman, and a Vietnamese soldier with a critical head wound. When his two crewmen were unable to life a wounded pilot out of the rice paddy, Major Toomepuu jumped from the helicopter and freed the pilot from mud and tall grass, while four Viet Cong machine guns tried to cut down the rescuers. With the casualties on board, he returned to the controls of the aircraft and made a fast, low-level departure. Major Toomepuu’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.