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 Clifford Dinkins (ASN: RA-10823686), 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, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Specialist Four Dinkins distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 18 May 1967 while serving with an airborne infantry unit on a search and destroy mission near Duc Pho. While moving along a jungle trail, the patrol was suddenly subjected to a heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire which inflicted several casualties. Observing a wounded comrade lying in the killing zone of the savage fusillade, Specialist Dinkins unhesitantly raced through a withering hail of bullets to the casualty, pulled him to the safety of an abandoned enemy bunker and administered emergency medical aid. He then saw two Vietnamese troops fall under the intense Viet Cong fire. Heedless of his safety, Specialist Dinkins began to move across the bullet-swept battlefield to their aid but was knocked to the ground and wounded by an enemy grenade. Disregarding his wounds, he gallantly continued his rescue attempt through a curtain of hostile fire. He reached the fallen men, discovered one was dead, and pulled them both back to the bunker. While treating the wounded trooper, he detected three Viet Cong advancing toward his position. He jumped from the bunker and fired deadly bursts from his rifle, killing one insurgent and forcing the others to withdraw. Unnoticed, a fourth enemy soldier had flanked his position and had crawled close enough to throw a hand grenade into the shelter. Specialist Dinkins leaped for the grenade, picked it up and threw it back at the insurgent. The grenade exploded in midair, killing the Viet Cong and seriously wounding Specialist Dinkins a second time. His fearless action in close combat saved the lives of two fellow soldiers. Specialist Four Dinkins’ 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.