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 Fourth Class Jerry Thomas Loucks, 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 A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Fourth Class Loucks distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in the Plei Trap Valley of the Central Highlands. On 12 March 1969, two platoons of his company came under a devastating barrage of small arms, automatic weapons and grenades from an enemy force concealed in well-constructed bunkers, suffering heavy casualties. Despite his own wounds, Specialist Loucks immediately assumed command when members of the command group were disabled and he organized a fire-and-movement team to advance through the deadly hail of enemy bullets. He and his team pressed on toward the hostile fortifications, silencing many of the bunkers. When ordered to pull back to the unit’s main element, he quickly organized the platoons and supervised the construction of litters to carry the wounded. He then led the beleaguered element through the hostile fusillade. With his coordination, his men temporarily silenced the enemy force, but suddenly the North Vietnamese launched an all-out attack in an attempt to overrun the small element. Rallying his comrades and repositioning them into advantageous defensive positions, Specialist Loucks succeeded in causing the enemy to abort their assault so that the link-up could be completed. Specialist Fourth Class Loucks’ 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.