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 First Class Raymond Dewayne Childress (ASN: RA-52067681), 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 Battery B, 2d Battalion, 77th Artillery, 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Childress distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 March 1967 while serving as chief of a firing battery during a massive Viet Cong attack on an artillery base near Suoi Tre. The insurgents had quickly overrun the camp’s security perimeter, and the open area around the battery was being swept by intense automatic weapons and small arms fire. Sergeant Childress ignored the explosions and flying shrapnel around him and moved through his area to reconstitute the crews of two batteries which were the focus of the hostile attack. Seeing masses of insurgents converging on a critical howitzer, Sergeant Childress obtained permission to fire anti-personnel rounds. The Viet Cong then made a concerted effort to destroy his howitzer, since it was the main obstacle to their advance. With hostile rounds falling near his position and damaging the gun, he almost single-handedly maintained its steady fire. When the howitzer’s sight mechanism was damaged, he sighted through the tube, inflicting devastating losses on the insurgents with more than 200 rounds of direct fire. The weapon was eventually destroyed by a direct hit and Sergeant Childress was seriously wounded. Bleeding badly and with one arm useless, he began moving ammunition from a burning area. As he was withdrawing from the area, another explosion wounded him more seriously. Unable to move his legs, he rolled into a ditch and continued to shout encouragement to the other cannoneers. Only after the Viet Cong had been decisively repulsed did he allow himself to be treated and prepared for medical evacuation. His steadfast and courageous actions prevented the fierce enemy assault from reaching the artillery. Sergeant First Class Childress’ 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.