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 Specialist Fourth Class [then Private First Class] Wendell T. Meade (ASN: US-52679909), 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, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Meade distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March and 13 March 1967 while serving as medical aidman for an infantry platoon on a combat mission near the Cambodian border. Specialist Meade’s platoon was on its way to relieve another unit engaged with a numerically superior Viet Cong force when it made contact with the enemy. Weaponless because of his religious beliefs, he braved withering enemy fire to aid his critically wounded platoon leader. Time after time he disregarded his own safety to crawl across the bullet-swept area between his platoon and the enemy positions to administer to his stricken comrades. When half the platoon fell back to a more secure position, Specialist Meade remained behind to supervise evacuation of the wounded. At the new position he exposed himself repeatedly to enemy mortar and automatic weapons fire to build a shelter for the casualties. Although seriously wounded while moving to aid an injured comrade, he ignored his injury until treatment of the other man was completed. He continued to move along the perimeter treating the wounded throughout the night and refused evacuation the next morning until all others had been cared for. Specialist Four Meade’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.