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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Joseph Bruce Bowman (ASN: 0-5340137), 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, 6th Infantry, 198th Infantry Brigade (Light), Americal Division. Second Lieutenant Bowman distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 February 1968 as an infantry platoon leader during a combat mission near DaNang. A Marine platoon had become engaged by enemy forces operating from a nearby village, and Lieutenant Bowman led his troops to reinforce the beleaguered unit. As his element approached the village across a large open rice paddy, a North Vietnamese Army battalion sprang a savage ambush on it from entrenched and concealed positions in a tree line and, at the same time, pounded it with a withering barrage of mortar, rocket and automatic weapons fire from the village. The devastating fusillade wounded Lieutenant Bowman and many of his men. Disregarding his wounds and safety, he fearlessly moved among his troops and directed them to defensive positions behind a paddy dike. He then began to evacuate the casualties, and the insurgents unleashed a series of fanatic human wave assaults on his perimeter. Bullets struck all around him as he moved from position to position and inspired his men to repel the determined attacks. The enemy finally overran his lines despite the heroic defense, and Lieutenant Bowman led his men in fierce hand-to-hand battle that inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers. He was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his troops in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force. Second Lieutenant Bowman’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.