Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion (Airborne)

    Regiment:

    502d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    101st Airborne Division

    Action Date:

    May 11, 1966

    Headquarters, United States Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 200 (August 25, 1966)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) William Frederick Otto (ASN: 0-5325620), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 11 May 1966, Lieutenant Otto, a member of Company A, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, was participating in a search and destroy mission when they captured a Viet Cong who revealed that a four-company ambush was set forward of the company along their axis of advance. To foil the ambush, Lieutenant Otto placed a point squad well to the front of his platoon that was the company’s lead element. Approximately 0900 hours, Lieutenant Otto’s platoon came under intensive small arms and automatic weapons fire from the front. Lieutenant Otto rushed forward, braving the insurgent fire to estimate the situation. He then placed two squads on line to assault the well-entrenched Viet Cong and again braved the hostile fire fearlessly moving along the assault line to direct his squad leaders. The platoon attempted to assault but was pinned done as the insurgents unleashed a devastating volume of fire. Lieutenant Otto called for artillery fire to within 30 meters of his position making a direct hit on a machine gun emplacement; however, this failed to destroy it. Realizing that the bunker must be destroyed, Lieutenant Otto again personally braved the fire and crawled to within 15 meters of the machine gun bunker. Disregarding the danger from other machine gun emplacements in the immediate area, he arose and threw a grenade into the bunker destroying the gun and crew. Being fully exposed so he could throw the grenade, another machine gun mortally wounded him. Lieutenant Otto’s courage in actual combat served as an inspiration to his men and was instrumental in overcoming the hostile insurgents. Lieutenant Otto’s extraordinary heroism and supreme sacrifice are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.