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 First Lieutenant (Armor) Mark L. Holbrook, 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 Troop A, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade. First Lieutenant Holbrook distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 and 2 March 1969 while flying in support of Fire Support Base Swinger. Despite devastating enemy fire directed at his aircraft, Captain Holbrook began close-range firing passes over the enemy positions, destroying their anti-aircraft weapon emplacement. He then reported the location of each wounded American soldier to expedite their medical evacuation. After leaving the contact area to replace his badly damaged airplane, Captain Holbrook returned to the battlefield to aid a second unit under hostile attack. Flying into the middle of the enemy fire, he began to mark positions for air strikes. When he discovered a large enemy element maneuvering to surround friendly ground troops, he initiated low passes and halted their forward movement. With the hostile element pinned down, he flew to another area of contact where he spotted two enemy vehicles, which he marked as well as surrounding enemy positions. Despite sustaining numerous hits to the craft, he ran marking passes which resulted in the destruction of vehicles, an ammunition depot and much of the enemy force. Captain Holbrook’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.