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 Staff Sergeant Ronald Eugene Malachi (ASN: US-56694642), 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 C, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade (Light), Americal Division. Staff Sergeant Malachi distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 and 6 January 1968 as squad leader of an infantry company on a search and destroy operation. His unit was ambushed on the morning of 5 January by a Viet Cong force firing machine guns and automatic weapons from well-fortified positions, and he joined a fire team which advanced toward one of the hostile bunkers. As his platoon leader, a member of the team, began to charge the bunker alone, Sergeant Malachi stood up to draw a hail of enemy fire away from the officer and toward himself. Braving the devastating fusillade, he joined the assault on the position and destroyed it, forcing the remaining insurgents to flee. Later in the day, his company was again attacked. Sergeant Malachi quickly deployed his men in a tight defensive perimeter and then moved through intense enemy fire to search for casualties and dispersed elements of the company. With the unit consolidated, he repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile weapons and moved along his lines to repel probes by the determined attackers. He detected a particularly effective North Vietnamese mortar position supported by two machine guns and, disregarding his personal safety, he furiously assaulted them until his ammunition was expended. Heedless of bullets striking all around him, he returned to his perimeter, secured a machine gun and continued his attack on the hostile weapons. Standing erect, he delivered deadly fire on the enemy positions at close range and destroyed all three emplacements. Early in the morning of 6 January, the insurgents directed a fierce rocket and mortar attack on the company command group. Sergeant Malachi immediately organized a security force to cover the command group’s withdrawal. He then took up an exposed position and repulsed strong enemy probes until reinforcements arrived. Staff Sergeant Malachi’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.