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 Richard E. Friend (ASN: US-52642163), 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 595th Engineer Company, 86th Engineer Battalion, 34th Engineer Group, United States Army Engineer Command, Vietnam. Specialist Four Friend distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 May 1967 while traveling with a convoy on a resupply mission near Soui Cat. As the convoy moved down the highway toward a base camp, it was savagely attacked by a large Viet Cong force firing mortars, recoilless rifles and automatic weapons from the undergrowth on both sides of the road. Specialist Friend was thrown to the ground when a recoilless rifle round hit his jeep, killed the driver, and spun the vehicle into a ditch. He lost his weapon when the vehicle overturned, and was pinned down by heavy fire from the advancing insurgents. As the assault intensified, he saw an enemy soldier moving toward an armored personnel carrier with a satchel charge. Completely disregarding his own safety, Specialist Friend stood up in the withering barrage and dashed to the carrier under a hail of bullets. Armed only with a knife, he leaped on the insurgent and fought a fierce hand-to-hand battle with the enemy soldier, killing him before he could destroy the carrier. His fearless action, at great risk to his life in the heat of battle was responsible for saving the lives of several comrades in the carrier. Specialist Four Friend’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.