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 Major (Field Artillery) Eugene Joseph Conner (ASN: 0-4009459), 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 Advisory Team 100, Capital Military District Advisory Detachment, United States Army Advisory Group, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Major Conner distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 while serving as a member of an advisory team during enemy attacks on Saigon. When he was informed that a truck carrying twenty military policemen had been savagely ambushed in an alley in Gia Dinh and all of the soldiers had been killed or wounded, Major Conner immediately moved to the battle site and volunteered to assist in rescuing the trapped victims. The Viet Cong were firmly entrenched in buildings along the alley and had set up a fierce crossfire with rockets and automatic weapons. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Major Conner led a small party through the curtain of fire to reach the trapped men. Ignoring bullets striking all around him, he helped carry the wounded men to safety and then volunteered to lead a sweeping force to clear the hostile positions. Intense enemy fire erupted from a nearby building and stalled the advance of the friendly troops, so Major Conner and one other man fearlessly charged the fortifications alone. As he neared the building, he was instantly killed by a Viet Cong rocket. His gallant and fearless leadership in the face of great odds was responsible for saving several lives and inspired his men to fight furiously in the heat of battle. Major Conner’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.