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 Sergeant [then Specialist Fourth Class] Stephen F. Bailey (ASN: US-53611644), 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 B, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Bailey distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 December 1968 as commander of an armored personnel carrier near the village of Trang Bang. While his troops was nearing a battle site, it came under intense automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Spotting an enemy rocket-propelled grenade team, Sergeant Bailey maneuvered to within twenty meters of their emplacement and killed them with accurate machine gun fire. When another track received a direct hit, he fearlessly dismounted his vehicle and crossed the bullet-swept terrain to help the wounded crew members. Despite a painful wound, he returned to his carrier after administering first aid and carrying a seriously injured man to safety. Moments later another track was disabled by an enemy round and he again ran to the vehicle and attempted to drive it from the communists’ line of fire. Finding that he needed assistance, he moved through the hostile barrage and returned with another man, throwing grenades into enemy emplacements only twenty meters away before reaching the track and driving it out of the endangered area. Sergeant Bailey’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.