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 Sergeant First Class William Lawrence, Jr., 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, 501st Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Platoon Sergeant Lawrence distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 June 1969 while serving as leader of a platoon securing Fire Support Base Tomahawk south of Hue. Shortly after midnight, the entire base perimeter was subjected to fierce attack by a reinforced battalion of North Vietnamese. During the initial mortar and rocket barrage, Sergeant Lawrence was wounded in the face from shrapnel, but despite his wound, he ran from bunker to bunker, directing fire, administering first aid and engaging enemy sappers with grenade and rifle fire. After repelling the sappers who had penetrated the perimeter, Sergeant Lawrence undertook the mission of re-securing an outpost which had been completely overrun and occupied by the enemy force. He quickly organized a small squad and began assaulting the outpost located on a hilltop approximately one hundred meters from the perimeter. As his men began moving up the slope, they came under heavy rocket-propelled grenade fire. Despite wounds in both arms, he continued to lead his squad in a final charge to recapture the outpost. He then set up a hasty defense around the hilltop, had the casualties returned to the main perimeter for evacuation, and held the outpost against additional hostile assaults. Platoon Sergeant Lawrence’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.