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 Charles R. Lose, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 14 November and 15 November 1965 in Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. Specialist Five Lose distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 and 15 November 1965. As a Medical Aidman, Specialist Lose was serving with the Second Platoon of Company B when the Platoon became pinned down by an intense assault from a battalion size Viet Cog force and then cut off from the remainder of the Company for a period of twenty-six hours. As the enemy’s deadly and heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire inflicted several casualties on the Platoon during the initial attack, Specialist Lose bravely moved through the hail of gun fire to care for the wounded. Although he was wounded in the foot by grenade fragments during one of his courageous moves to reach a fallen comrade, he continued to administer to the wounded by crawling from man to man dragging his aid kit with him. When his medical supplies became exhausted, he demonstrated rare ingenuity and determination by fashioning bandages from C-ration resources. He collected water from the canteens of the dead for distribution to the wounded. Again and again, he crawled across the open area and exposed himself to the intense hostile fire to give first aid to the wounded, often using his own body as a shield for the protection of his fellow soldiers. On the following day when a relief force reached the beleaguered unit, he refused to be evacuated until all of the wounded were taken to safety. Specialist Lose’s conspicuous gallantry, his extraordinary heroism on the battlefield, and his deep concern for his fellow soldiers are in the highest traditions of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of his country.