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 Captain (Armor) Joseph Cizmadia (ASN: 0-98395), 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 Troop F, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Captain Cizmadia distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 August 1968, as commander of an armored cavalry troop during the defense of the Special Forces camp and district headquarters at Loc Ninh. Captain Cizmadia’s number of combat vehicles had been reduced from sixteen to nine in the previous three days by heavy fighting against a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. As he led his remaining men out to reconnoiter the area northeast of the village, they came under an intense barrage of small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire from entrenched positions in the tree line and jungle, resulting in several casualties. Unable to call for artillery or air strikes because of the proximity of his troops to the enemy, he realized that he must assault the aggressors to prevent further losses. Directing his track through the lines of halted vehicles, he advanced on the enemy. Inspired by his fearless example, his troops rallied and overran the North Vietnamese, killing eighteen and causing the others to retreat. As Captain Cizmadia directed the evacuation of his casualties, his rear guard was again taken under fire and a platoon leader was wounded. Braving the hostile fusillade, he moved his track in front of the platoon leader’s vehicle to prevent it from taking further hits, and launched a successful assault which permitted the man to be evacuated. By the end of the day the communists were soundly defeated and left behind sixty of their dead. Captain Cizmadia’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.