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 First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Horace G. Sanders, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery C, 7th Battalion, 9th Artillery, 5th Field Artillery Group. First Lieutenant Sanders distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as executive officer when his battery came under intense mortar, rocket and ground attack on 18 May 1969. As the enemy forces began their assault against the northeast perimeter, Lieutenant Sanders moved to the first howitzer section to supervise the direct fixing of his high-explosive and beehive rounds on the charging force. Although severely wounded when the howitzer section received rocket-propelled grenade fire, he directed those men who could to withdraw to the second howitzer position where they continued to fire on the enemy. After establishing strong retaliatory fire, Lieutenant Sanders then returned on four different occasions to the first howitzer section to retrieve wounded personnel. When a heavy enemy barrage fatally wounded a man near the second howitzer position, Lieutenant Sanders, unaware that the man was fatally wounded, ran into the hostile fusillade to bring him to safety. Throughout the ensuing battle he continued to move from position to position encouraging him men and directing their return fire. On being notified that concentrated hostile fire was coming from a building near the battery, he moved to the fifth howitzer section to direct fire on the building, causing several secondary explosions. First Lieutenant Sanders’ 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.