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 Staff Sergeant Tomas Garcia Reyes (ASN: RA-10106244), 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, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Staff Sergeant Reyes distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 November 1967 while serving as a squad leader of an infantry company on a search and destroy mission near An Tay. The company had moved to a small area of high ground, and Sergeant Reyes’ platoon was directed to cross an open rice paddy and secure the hedgerow on the far side. As his squad reached a position ten feet from the hedgerow, intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire erupted from well-concealed bunkers to the front and flanks. Sergeant Reyes immediately directed his troops to return fire on the hostile forces. Moving from position to position, he fired his weapon and threw grenades at the enemy. He then crawled forward through the withering fusillade to within two feet of a bunker in the hedgerow, fired his weapon on full automatic with one hand and with the other hurled several hand grenades into the position, destroying it and its occupants. When Sergeant Reyes received the order to break contact and allow supporting fire to be placed on the well-entrenched enemy, he remained exposed to a savage hail of bullets and fought a delaying action as his men withdrew. One of his squad members was wounded, and he gallantly returned to the bullet-swept rice paddy to rescue his comrade. While others followed him out to recover the casualty, Sergeant Reyes charged forward alone through a curtain of hostile fire. Hurling grenades and firing his weapon, he destroyed a second enemy emplacement. He was mortally wounded while courageously placing the welfare of his fellow soldiers above his own. Staff Sergeant Reyes’ 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.