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 Randolph T. Chrietzberg, 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 E, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Chrietzberg distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March 1969 while serving as leader of a point team on a reconnaissance patrol near Polei Kleng. The team was ascending a ridge when suddenly assaulted by a force of North Vietnamese regulars. The assailants were quickly overcome, but snipers in trees and holes along the ridge continued to place harassing fire on the company’s main force to the team’s rear and forced it to withdraw, leaving the point team isolated. Several hours later the team began to move back to regain contact with the company. They came upon a bunker and tunnel complex and flushed out what resistance they met. Heavy sniper fire then descended upon them. They hastily scattered, pursued by streams of machine gun fire. Sergeant Chrietzberg dived into a foxhole with the assistant team leader. The two leaders had completely lost contact with their fellow team members. Impacting rockets and small arms fire restricted their movement. They hurled grenades at the machine gun and eliminated its suppressive fire. Together they crawled to the quieted machine gun emplacement and from there overcame three more enemy. The two men then took foot for their unit, but were again blocked by machine gun and small arms fire. They hurled grenades on the machine gun and silenced it, but enemy riflemen continued to harass them. They were both pinned down, and the assistant leader was seriously wounded. Sergeant Chrietzberg called in and accurately adjusted gunship fire on the harassing snipers. At dusk the two soldiers resumed their frustrated withdrawal, Sergeant Chrietzberg carrying his disabled companion until exhausted. After resting they pressed on, Sergeant Chrietzberg plodding along in front and his assistant crawling slowly behind. They covered some distance and were suddenly met with bursts of small arms fire and exploding grenades from a nearby bunker. Sergeant Chrietzberg cut down several enemy but was temporarily blinded from the hostile grenade flashes. His assistant then crawled unnoticed up to the enemy bunker and unleashed his last grenade, suffering critical wounds in the ensuing blast. Sergeant Chrietzberg attempted to administer first aid, but his comrade was failing fast. He made his way back to the unit and returned to the battlefield with medical assistance, but his comrade had already expired. Sergeant Chrietzberg’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.