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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, United States Army
Vietnam
APO San Francisco 96375
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER
2025 |
9 June 1969
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AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
| 1. TC 320.
The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
LECHUGA, MARTIN RA 15960755, SPECIALIST FOUR United
States Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized),
5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, APO 96225
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| Awarded: |
Distinguished Service Cross |
| Date of Action: |
11 April 1969 |
| Theater: |
Republic of Viet Nam |
| Reason: |
For extraordinary heroism in connection with
military operations |
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involving conflict with an armed hostile force
in the Republic of
Vietnam: Specialist Four Lechuga distinguished
himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 April 1969 while serving
as a rifleman with a platoon operating in Hau Nghia Province. His
platoon was carrying out an intelligence mission when the lead man detected
an enemy ambush in time to warn his comrades. A fire fight erupted,
and the hostile forces were routed. Wishing to maintain contact with
the fleeing enemy, the platoon pressed forward. On entering a wooded
area, the friendly element came under an enfilade from automatic weapons,
rifle grenades and mortars. On identifying the source of enemy fire
to the left flank, Specialist Lechuga and a comrade began moving toward
the emplacement. Just as they silenced the hostile position, they received
heavy fire from another enemy fortification, which seriously wounded Specialist
Lechuga’s comrade. Realizing that eh hostile fusillade prevented his pulling
the wounded man to safety, he placed himself in front of his comrade protecting
him from receiving further wounds and began returning a hail of rifle fire.
As a result of his attempt to save his fellow soldier’s life, he was fatally
wounded by enemy extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost
of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United
States Army. |
| Authority: |
By direction of the President, under the provisions
of the Act of |
|
Congress, approved 25 July 1963. |
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MARTIN LECHUGA 
