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 Philip Larry Nichols (ASN: RA-13795234), 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, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Specialist Fourth Class Nichols distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 June 1966 while serving as a medic with a company conducting a heliborne assault on Hill 258, near Trung Luong. While debarking the helicopters, the first assault wave received intense hostile fire from entrenched Viet Cong on the higher portion of the hill. On several occasions, Specialist Fourth Class Nichols, with complete disregard for his safety while exposed to hostile machine gun fire, treated many wounded and carried them from the killing zone. When Specialist Fourth Class Nichols learned that one of the other platoons had suffered several serious casualties in an effort to outflank the Viet Cong positions, he immediately went to the aid of the platoon. Again, he braved intense hostile fire while treating and evacuating his fallen comrades. On his fourth trip into the killing zone, he was struck in the thigh by a hostile bullet. Despite his wound, he dragged a wounded man to safety. When he crawled back into the killing zone to aid another wounded comrade, he was hit in the same leg by two more bullets. Although bleeding profusely, he continued to treat the wounded until ordered to return to the medical extraction point. Refusing any assistance, he hobbled to the evacuation area. While awaiting medical evacuation, Specialist Fourth Class Nichols continued to administer first aid to his wounded comrades. Through his unimpeachable valor, he personally carried or dragged 10 wounded men from the killing zone and administered life saving first aid to many comrades while receiving intense hostile fire. Specialist Fourth Class Nichols’ 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.