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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 Gordon William Gaskin (ASN: RA-15843739), 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Fourth Class Gaskin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 January 1968 while serving as a medical aidman at Landing Zone Leslie in the Que Son Valley. His unit’s perimeter was hit by a North Vietnamese barrage of rocket, mortar, recoilless rifle, automatic and semiautomatic weapon fire, followed by a vicious ground assault which resulted in fierce hand-to-hand combat in many areas. Specialist Gaskin exposed himself to the heavy volume of hostile fire as he moved to the perimeter in search of wounded soldiers. Although he was frequently fired on by the enemy, he fearlessly rescued his injured comrades and brought them to his aid station. During the seven-hour battle Specialist Gaskin treated over fifty casualties, sterilizing pieces of clothing to construct makeshift bandages after he had exhausted all his medical supplies. By repeatedly quitting his protected position to help his fellow soldiers, he saved many lives. Specialist Fourth Class Gaskin’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.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Specialist Fourth Class

    Regiment:

    68th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade

    Action Date:

    May 11, 1969
    Headquarters, United States Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 527 (February 24, 1970)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fourth Class Gordon W. Gaskin (ASN: RA-15843739), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with the 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Fourth Class Gaskin distinguished himself on 11 May 1969 while serving as Medical Aidman aboard a helicopter ambulance during a rescue mission near Long Binh in the Republic of Vietnam. Responding to an urgent request to pick up two survivors of the crash of a light observation helicopter downed by enemy ground fire, Specialist Gaskin and fellow crewmen immediately boarded their evacuation helicopter and flew to the crash site. When they arrived over the wreckage, friendly helicopter gunships were in the area engaging numerous hostile targets on the ground and receiving return automatic weapons fire. Despite the presence of enemy troops in close proximity to the downed aircraft, Specialist Gaskin and fellow crewmen elected to make a descent into the area and attempt a pick-up. As soon as the evacuation helicopter touched ground, Specialist Gaskin disembarked the aircraft and rushed some forty meters under barrages of enemy fire to the aid of the wounded airman. Upon reaching the wreckage, Specialist Gaskin found one airman dead and the other lying incapacitated in the wreckage. Under continuous enemy fire, Specialist Gaskin dragged the wounded man back to the air ambulance for evacuation to medical facilities. Even as the air ambulance lifted off from the pick-up site, enemy rounds ripped through its fuselage. Specialist Fourth Class Gaskin’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.