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 M. McBee (ASN: RA-16817056), 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 B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class McBee distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 February 1969 as a platoon leader on a search and clear mission in the vicinity of Chu Pa Mountain. His company was suddenly engaged by a well-entrenched, numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force equipped with small arms, automatic weapons, rockets and mortars. Although he received shrapnel wounds in the leg and shoulder during the initial volley, Sergeant McBee refused treatment and maneuvered through the enemy fire to position his men. Seeing a wounded comrade who lay exposed to the hostile barrage, he advanced twenty-five meters to reach the casualty, administered first aid, and was about to carry him to safety when he saw three North Vietnamese approaching his location. Sergeant McBee waited until all three had come within twenty meters and eliminated them with two well-placed hand grenades. After carrying the wounded man from under the enemy fire, he helped bring seven other casualties to an evacuation point and redistributed their ammunition along his unit’s perimeter. Still disregarding his wounds, he moved forward to an exposed site and adjusted artillery fire until dark. Platoon Sergeant McBee’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.