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 William Eidman Wilcox, Jr. (ASN: US-51774749), 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 C, 3d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Wilcox distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 May 1968 while serving with an infantry unit near Binh Het. He was in charge of a listening post located three hundred meters from his company’s perimeter. Detecting movement near his station, he immediately radioed the company command post of the imminent danger. Moments later a North Vietnamese Army force launched a fierce ground assault supported by mortars, rockets and heavy machine guns. He called in artillery and hurled grenades in an attempt to halt the attack, which was sweeping directly toward his position. Realizing that he and his men would soon be overrun, he organized a withdrawal and covered his troops’ exit, killing several communists at a distance of ten meters. He remained at the rear of his element, exposed to intense fire, until it was within twenty-five meters of his company’s perimeter. There the aggressors began to flank his men, threatening to cut them off. Completely disregarding his safety, Specialist Wilcox stood facing the enemy, firing his rifle and throwing grenades so his comrades could cross the perimeter. As he single-handedly braved the onslaught of the North Vietnamese forces, he was mortally wounded by their murderous fire. Specialist Four Wilcox’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.