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 Fifth Class [then Specialist Fourth Class] William D. Burnett, 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 Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Fifth Class Burnett distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 November 1965 as a driver of an armored personnel carrier. Specialist Burnett demonstrated dauntless courage when a hostile regiment launched a fierce attack on his unit at Ap Bau Bang. At the start of the battle, when the .50 caliber machinegun mounted on his carrier malfunctioned, he swiftly moved from the cover of the driver’s seat to the top of the vehicle, quickly cleared the weapon, and used it on approaching insurgents, annihilating fourteen of them. During this action, the carrier took three direct hits from mortar fire, disabling it and wounding the vehicle commander. Assuming command of the situation, Specialist Burnett ordered the crew out of the vehicle, covered their withdrawal, then personally carried the wounded commander, and succeeded in reaching a protective cover moments before a mortar round landed directly on the vehicle. During the withdrawal, he also saved the life of another wounded man by using his hand weapon to eliminate two insurgents who were about to kill his beleaguered companion. After administering first aid to the wounded soldier, Specialist Burnett again exposed himself to a heavy volume of gun fire, going from vehicle to vehicle in search of a medical aidman for his critically injured commander. Upon finding an aidman, he led him back and then picked up his commander and carried him across 250 meters of terrain through intense hostile gun fire to the helicopter evacuation pad. Through his bravery, determination, and profound concern for others, he saved the lives of many fellow soldiers and contributed to his unit’s success in repulsing a well-armed and numerically overwhelming insurgent force. Specialist Burnett’s extraordinary heroism while serving on the battlefield is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.