The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class James Anthony Franklin, 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, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Franklin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March 1969 while serving as assistant 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 upon 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. Specialist Franklin dived into a foxhole and was followed by the team leader. The two leaders had completely lost contact with their fellow team members. Impacting rockets and machine gun 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 pitched grenades on the machine gun and silenced it, but enemy riflemen continued to harass them. Specialist Franklin was pinned down and severely wounded in the knee. Ignoring his wound, he radioed in and accurately adjusted helicopter gunship fire on the harassing riflemen. At dusk, he and his comrade resumed their frustrated withdrawal, the team leader carrying Specialist Franklin until exhausted. After resting they pressed on, the exhausted team leader plodding along in front and Specialist Franklin crawling slowly behind. They covered some distance and were suddenly met with bursts of small arms fire and exploding grenades from a nearby bunker. Seeing that his comrade had been temporarily blinded by the grenade flashes, Specialist Franklin crawled unnoticed up to the enemy bunker and unleashed his last grenade. The ensuing blast wounded him severely. Knowing that there was nothing his comrade could to for him, he selflessly encouraged the soldier to return to the unit and safety. Specialist Four Franklin’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.