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 Private First Class Robert Loftus, 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 B, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Private First Class Loftus distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 August 1968 while serving as a medical aidman during a search and destroy mission in the Khe Sanh Valley. When his company received fire from a North Vietnamese bunker complex, Private Loftus immediately ran to the foremost positions to administer aid to four wounded Americans. Although he was subjected to intense hostile fire from close range, and at one point had an enemy round crease his helmet, Private Loftus treated the four soldiers and then carried them to a sheltered position some sixty meters away. Again braving the enemy barrage, he treated and extracted five more comrades from positions which were under fire. While carrying one wounded man from the conflict area, he came under direct fire, and the injured soldier in his arms was struck by another enemy round. Without hesitation, Private Loftus assaulted the hostile emplacement and destroyed it with a hand grenade and continued to evacuate the casualty. Private First Class Loftus’ 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.