Roger Brian Crowell

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Roger Brian Crowell (US52687737), Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop C, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Crowell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 while serving as a tank driver of an armored platoon on a reaction mission during the communist Lunar New Year offensive. His platoon was called to reinforce friendly elements engaged in a fierce firefight with a regimental size force of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army soldiers who had penetrated the Tan Son Nhut Air Base perimeter. While moving into the battle site, the platoon was subjected to savage enemy rocket, automatic weapons and small arms fire. Specialist Crowell’s tank was struck by three anti-tank rockets, and his commander directed the crew to evacuate the disabled vehicle. Heedless of his safety amid withering hostile fire, Specialist Crowell unhesitatingly left the driver’s compartment and climbed inside the tank. Alone, he quickly loaded and fired eighteen devastatingly accurate cannon rounds on the attacking insurgents. When continuing enemy rocket fire rendered the main gun inoperable, Specialist Crowell fearlessly exposed himself to the relentless fusillade and raked the hostile positions with a hail of bullets from the tank’s machine gun until he was struck by enemy small arms fire and instantly killed. Specialist Four Crowell’s 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.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2182 (May 11, 1968)