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 Sergeant Ernest Gray Mines, 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 C, 1st Battalion, 22d Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. First Sergeant Mines distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 October 1969 while participating in a search and clear mission in the mountainous terrain northeast of An Khe. While exploring a cavern located near an enemy camp site, he discovered a cache containing rifles, baskets of rice, and salt. First Sergeant Mines summoned other team members to aid him in removing the supplies. As his companions gathered around and he began to remove the items, he activated a concealed booby trap which caused an armed grenade to fall to the cavern floor. Reacting quickly, First Sergeant Mines warned his comrades and then threw himself directly on the grenade. After an agonizing period during which the grenade failed to explode, he carefully moved off the grenade and ran from the cave. A subsequent examination of the grenade revealed that the pin had been pulled, but the safety release had not been removed when the booby trap had been emplaced. First Sergeant Mine’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.