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 Staff Sergeant Francisco Rodriguez, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 April 1969 as commander of a tank reconnaissance force. While moving through the jungle Sergeant Rodriguez and his men were in front of a troop when they suddenly came upon a large North Vietnamese Army base camp. An intensive volume of small arms, automatic weapons fire and antitank grenades slammed into the three vehicles. Sergeant Rodriguez immediately exposed himself to the hostile volleys as he directed counterfire against the well-entrenched enemy force. As enemy soldiers suddenly appeared out of spider hole bunkers on all sides of the vehicles, he used different types of main gun ammunition to place the most effective fire on the enemy. After one tank was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade, Sergeant Rodriguez braved the hostile fire to clear a landing zone for the evacuation of several seriously wounded crew members. On one occasion when a tank threw a track tread, he dashed through the withering hail of fire to help with the repair. Later, when another vehicle sheared a final drive shaft, he rigged a tow bar and attached the crippled tank to his own. As the three vehicles began to move toward a fire support base, they came under fire from a North Vietnamese battalion-sized force. Although he was seriously wounded, Sergeant Rodriguez directed his vehicle into a position to protect one of the tanks that had been damaged in the initial volley. He provided suppressive fire as the wounded were treated and evacuated. Sergeant Rodriguez’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.