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 Lon D. Nicol (ASN: RA-17366849), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop C, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Platoon Sergeant Nicol distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 February 1969 while on a reconnaissance-in-force mission in the vicinity of a small rubber plantation northwest of Go Dau Hau. About noon his troop discovered a large enemy bunker complex hidden along the hedgerows. On assaulting the enemy bulwark, the entire unit came under an enfilade of small arms and machine gun fire as well as rocket-propelled antitank grenades. Suddenly the lead armored personnel carrier drew a hit from extremely close range. Seeing that the entire crew was wounded, Platoon Sergeant Nicol leaped from his vehicle and rushed forward through and intense hail of fire to aid the injured. As he pulled the wounded from the burning track, he spotted a small enemy team preparing to launch grenades on the friendly position. He stormed the hostile emplacement, throwing grenades until he demolished his target. Then he carried the wounded to the medic and re-armed himself with more grenades. Pinpointing more enemy fortifications, he silenced them with precisely-delivered grenades. Later, while directing recovery operations and medical evacuation, he sighted two North Vietnamese soldiers. One had a hand grenade, and the other threatened to fire a rocket-propelled grenade at the recovery crew. Acting quickly, Sergeant Nicol shoved three of his comrades to the ground and shielded them with his own body. Fragmentation from the blast wounded him in the head and arms, while the others escaped unscathed. Platoon Sergeant Nicol’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.