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 James Daniel Spitz, 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 A, 3d Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airborne). Sergeant First Class Spitz distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on the morning of 27 March 1969 at Fire Support Base Jack. When a heavy concentration of hostile mortar fire began to pound the base, Sergeant Spitz dashed to his mortar section and began supervising the firing of high-explosive and illumination rounds. As the incoming barrage slackened and the enemy initiated a ground assault, he moved along the perimeter bunker line to direct the defense. While making his way through the fusillade of enemy rocket grenades, he encountered four communists storming the berm. Sergeant Spitz immediately charged the four enemy soldiers and drove them back. Before the hostile force could obtain reinforcements and attempt another assault, Sergeant Spitz regrouped the men along that section of the perimeter. Six of the enemy returned with satchel charges and rocket-propelled grenades, but Sergeant Spits’ intrepid counterattack drove them back once more. While gunships riddled the area outside the berm, Sergeant Spitz directed his attention to the M-42 self-propelled gun crew’s tent which had been struck by enemy fire. He rushed to help remove the wounded and then assisted in firing the M-42 gun at the charging enemy. Sergeant First Class Spitz’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.