The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Frank De Marchi, Jr. (ASN: US-51552670), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 5 April 1966. Private De Marchi was serving as an assistant machine gunner in a twelve-man patrol, part of Company A, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, when they discovered an estimated 300 Viet Cong insurgents moving in three columns toward the company’s defensive perimeter. Realizing that a force of this size could result in disaster for the company, the small patrol attacked one of the columns consisting of approximately 100 Viet Cong. Private De Marchi’s machine gun crew became the insurgents’ target of determined assaults. Besides tending the machine gun, Private De Marchi assisted in holding off the assaults with his individual weapon. Disregarding his own personal safety, he left his position two times in the face of hostile fire to beat off the assaults. With the machine gun jammed, seven Viet Cong charged his position. Private De Marchi ran forward to block the assault and courageously killed three with his weapon, two more with a hand grenade, then fiercely engaged two in hand-to-hand combat. Returning to his position after the gunner had cleared the stoppage in the machine gun, he continued to fight until he was mortally wounded by small arms fire. Private First Class De Marchi’s extraordinary heroism and supreme sacrifice are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.