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 Richard M. Hale (ASN: RA-19825582), 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 A, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Hale distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 November 1966 while serving as a squad leader with the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry during a search and destroy operation near Tay Ninh. As the battalion maneuvered into position, it suddenly received intense automatic weapons and mortar fire from an entrenched Viet Cong force. Sergeant Hale immediately ordered his armored personnel carrier into the center of the action. Once fire superiority had been gained, he dismounted his squad and aggressively led them in an assault on the hostile positions. When one of his men was hit by grenade fragments, just short of the Viet Cong lines, Sergeant Hale directed his squad to evacuate the wounded man. With complete disregard for his safety, while armed with only a bowie knife and a pistol, he charged the hostile emplacement alone. Dauntlessly running 30 meters through intense hostile fire, he leaped into the bunker and engaged two insurgents in fierce hand-to-hand combat. After killing both Viet Cong, Sergeant hale reorganized his squad and continued to search the area until he was shot in the chest by a sniper. Although painfully wounded and weak from loss of blood, he gallantly crawled to the hostile position and killed two more insurgents with his pistol. His unimpeachable valor and profound concern for his comrades inspired all those around him and helped to defeat a determined hostile force. Sergeant Hale’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.