1/4 Cavalry Awards and Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation to 1/4 Cav
GO 31
General Orders HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
No 31 WASHINGTON, D.C., 14 July 1967
I..THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY). Award of the Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) by the President of the United States of America to the following unit of
the Armed Forces of the United States is confirmed in accordance with paragraph
194, AR 672-5-1. The text of the citation, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson
19 May 1967, reads as follows:
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and as
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States I have today awarded
the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for extraordinary heroism, to:
THE 1ST SQUADRON, 4TH CAVALRY, 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division distinguished itself by
extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against hostile
forces in Binh Long Province, Republic of Vietnam during the period June to July
1966. On 8 June 1966, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry was moving north along
Highway 13 to the vicinity of An Loc to conduct area reconnaissance and offensive
operations. The lead tank was hit by a command detonated mine which was the
signal for three Viet Cong battalions to open a full-scale attack from both sides
of the road. The three Viet Cong battalions occupied defensive fortifications and
were heavily equipped with recoil-less rifles, automatic weapons and a variety of
small arms. Troop A immediately closed with the insurgent force in a fierce
assault. Maneuver room was limited due to marshy terrain on either side of the
highway. Continuous, multi-direction assaults were attempted by the desperate
insurgent forces, but in each case they were halted by accurate tank, automatic,
and individual weapons fire. With an indomitable fighting spirit, continuous fire
and movement was used to steadily close on the insurgent force. The courageous
fighting of the cavalrymen routed the Viet Cong from their emplacements. The
gallant actions of Troop A in this six-hour battle was an eminent success. In
addition, the armed helicopters of Troop D, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, the
supporting artillery, and Air Force fighter aircraft contributed immeasurably to
the success of the battle by bringing devastating fire on the Viet Cong. The
actions resulted in a count of 105 insurgents killed and a large number of Viet
Cong weapons captured. On the morning of 30 June 1966, Troops B and C were
conducting armed reconnaissance north of An Loc on Highway 13, when they were
struck by a Viet Cong regiment. The insurgent force poured a volume of mortar,
recoilless rifle and automatic weapons fire into the column from the front and
two sides. Fire was immediately returned by the Squadron, engaging the Viet Cong
at point-blank range. The insurgents, concealed next to the road, made repeated
attempts to overrun the Squadron by use of hand grenades at close range,
point-blank firing, and fanatical assaults. Maneuver by the cavalrymen was again
severely hampered by dense brush and marshy soil and they were forced to conduct
their fight from extremely vulnerable positions. Although four platoon leaders
were killed or wounded in the first hour, the gallant stand of the cavalrymen
resulted in total defeat of the hostile force, whose scattered survivors fled
from the battlefield. On the morning of 9 July, the Squadron's
B, C, and D troops deployed southwest of An Loc to lure the insurgents into
contact. The reinforced Viet Cong regiment, again covered in the heavy growth
along the road, launched a powerful attack under the cover of intense mortar,
small arms, automatic weapons, and grenades and .50 caliber machinegun fire. The
intensity of the three-hour fight equaled the two earlier and longer engagements.
The lack of proximate landing zones for the infantry delayed the planned
reinforcement and required the Squadron to bear the entire force of the
numerically superior insurgent force attack for two hours. '1'he cavalrymen with
immediately responsive and continuous support by air and artillery, Imeroically
stood their ground and broke the Viet on attack. The determination displayed by
the 1st Squadron, 4th United States Cavalry during the three decisive battles of
operation El Paso II resulted in significant victories. The Squadron's indomitable
courage resulted in 712 confirmed hostile dead, and estimated 850 additional
killed, and large quantities of captured weapons and equipment. The conspicuous
gallantry and extraordinary heroism of the 1st S9uadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry
Division is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and
reflects great credit upon all who Participated in these significant battles.
(Extract)
GO 31
General Orders HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
No 31 WASHINGTON, D.C., 14 July 1967
I..THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY). Award of the Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) by the President of the United States of America to the following unit of
the Armed Forces of the United States is confirmed in accordance with paragraph
194, AR 672-5-1. The text of the citation, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson
19 May 1967, reads as follows:
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and as
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States I have today awarded
the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for extraordinary heroism, to:
THE 1ST SQUADRON, 4TH CAVALRY, 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division distinguished itself by
extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against hostile
forces in Binh Long Province, Republic of Vietnam during the period June to July
1966. On 8 June 1966, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry was moving north along
Highway 13 to the vicinity of An Loc to conduct area reconnaissance and offensive
operations. The lead tank was hit by a command detonated mine which was the
signal for three Viet Cong battalions to open a full-scale attack from both sides
of the road. The three Viet Cong battalions occupied defensive fortifications and
were heavily equipped with recoil-less rifles, automatic weapons and a variety of
small arms. Troop A immediately closed with the insurgent force in a fierce
assault. Maneuver room was limited due to marshy terrain on either side of the
highway. Continuous, multi-direction assaults were attempted by the desperate
insurgent forces, but in each case they were halted by accurate tank, automatic,
and individual weapons fire. With an indomitable fighting spirit, continuous fire
and movement was used to steadily close on the insurgent force. The courageous
fighting of the cavalrymen routed the Viet Cong from their emplacements. The
gallant actions of Troop A in this six-hour battle was an eminent success. In
addition, the armed helicopters of Troop D, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, the
supporting artillery, and Air Force fighter aircraft contributed immeasurably to
the success of the battle by bringing devastating fire on the Viet Cong. The
actions resulted in a count of 105 insurgents killed and a large number of Viet
Cong weapons captured. On the morning of 30 June 1966, Troops B and C were
conducting armed reconnaissance north of An Loc on Highway 13, when they were
struck by a Viet Cong regiment. The insurgent force poured a volume of mortar,
recoilless rifle and automatic weapons fire into the column from the front and
two sides. Fire was immediately returned by the Squadron, engaging the Viet Cong
at point-blank range. The insurgents, concealed next to the road, made repeated
attempts to overrun the Squadron by use of hand grenades at close range,
point-blank firing, and fanatical assaults. Maneuver by the cavalrymen was again
severely hampered by dense brush and marshy soil and they were forced to conduct
their fight from extremely vulnerable positions. Although four platoon leaders
were killed or wounded in the first hour, the gallant stand of the cavalrymen
resulted in total defeat of the hostile force, whose scattered survivors fled
from the battlefield. On the morning of 9 July, the Squadron's
B, C, and D troops deployed southwest of An Loc to lure the insurgents into
contact. The reinforced Viet Cong regiment, again covered in the heavy growth
along the road, launched a powerful attack under the cover of intense mortar,
small arms, automatic weapons, and grenades and .50 caliber machinegun fire. The
intensity of the three-hour fight equaled the two earlier and longer engagements.
The lack of proximate landing zones for the infantry delayed the planned
reinforcement and required the Squadron to bear the entire force of the
numerically superior insurgent force attack for two hours. '1'he cavalrymen with
immediately responsive and continuous support by air and artillery, Imeroically
stood their ground and broke the Viet on attack. The determination displayed by
the 1st Squadron, 4th United States Cavalry during the three decisive battles of
operation El Paso II resulted in significant victories. The Squadron's indomitable
courage resulted in 712 confirmed hostile dead, and estimated 850 additional
killed, and large quantities of captured weapons and equipment. The conspicuous
gallantry and extraordinary heroism of the 1st S9uadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry
Division is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and
reflects great credit upon all who Participated in these significant battles.
(Extract)
Award of Vietnam Cross Of Gallentry W/Palm to BRO Units
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