John R. Deane, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to John R. Deane, Jr. (0-24835), Brigadier General, U.S. 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, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Brigadier General Deane distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 9 to 25 January 1967, while Commanding the 173d Airborne Brigade during Operation CEDAR FALLS. Throughout this period, he boldly directed the brigade on search and destroy operations against fortified Viet Cong strongholds in the Iron Triangle. Unmindful of the dangers, General Deane flew daily missions in the immediate area of the most intense conflict to monitor the action from his command and control helicopter. Time and again, he selflessly exposed himself to hostile sniper fire and automatic weapons fire by landing on the ravaged battlefield to extract casualties, offer encouragement and provide tactical advice to his commanders. On one occasion, General Deane fearlessly ordered his pilot to land in a heavily booby trapped field to evacuate a wounded soldier. As the situation required, he personally directed artillery and air strikes in close support of his troops. Then, with complete disregard for his safety, he flew low over the insurgent positions to assess the damage and ensure that the enemy was not withdrawing undetected. Unrelenting in his determination and courage, General Deane would hover at treetop level to guide the ground units through the dense enemy-held jungle and often marked targets with smoke grenades. His unimpeachable valor and dynamic leadership immeasurably bolstered the morale of his men and inspired them to decisively defeat the Viet Cong in every engagement throughout Operation CEDAR FALLS. Brigadier General Deane’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 command, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1853 (1967)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John R. Deane, Jr. (0-24835), Brigadier General, U.S. 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, 1st Infantry Division. Brigadier General Deane distinguished himself from 5 November 1966 to 18 November 1966 during combat operations near the Michelin Rubber Plantation. Upon learning that elements of a light infantry brigade were receiving intense hostile fire from a numerically superior Viet Cong force, Brigadier General Deane immediately flew into the battle area, conducted low level passes while receiving hostile fire and identified the positions of each ground element. After landing in an insecure landing zone, Brigadier General Deane walked with his leg in a cast to the command post of the forward infantry elements which were about 30 meters from the main Viet Cong force. Brigadier General Deane repeated this process four times on 5 November and was present with forward infantry elements during four major Viet Cong attacks which carried to within yards of his position. His presence with the forward infantry troops and his repeated flights over the battle area contributed immeasurably to the successful conclusion of the operation and extraction of the American forces involved. On 12 November, Brigadier General Deane was flying over combat operations when the battalion command group was hit with a claymore mine that immobilized it and caused difficulty for the command group in controlling the movement of their subordinate elements through the jungle. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Brigadier General Deane, while receiving intense hostile fire, assumed command and control of the battalion from his helicopter. Brigadier General Deane landed in an insecure landing zone near an infantry element and personally directed its movements. When Brigadier General Deane observed that a flanking patrol was approximately 1,000 meters behind the Viet Cong force and on the flank, he personally directed this small group into a clearing and, while receiving intense hostile fire, landed on four separate occasions and extracted all members of the group. Later in the day, he again landed under fire and extracted a wounded Sergeant Major and an Operations Officer from a nearby jungle clearing. On 18 November, Brigadier General Deane was flying at low level over the battle area when he monitored a radio message that a lieutenant and a small patrol were receiving hostile fire about 1,500 meters from the battalion landing zone. Brigadier General Deane immediately established radio contact with the patrol, determined that they had multiple casualties, utilized his helicopter as a gunship and conducted fifteen to twenty low-level passes while firing his personal weapon and door guns on the Viet Cong. After t he insurgents withdrew, he remained in the area, vectored a company into contact with the patrol and skillfully directed the medical evacuation. Later Brigadier General Deane landed his helicopter deep in hostile territory to extract a helicopter crew which had been shot down by hostile ground fire near the headquarters of a Viet Cong division. Through the entire battle in Tay Ninh Province, Brigadier General Deane was present on or over the battlefield whenever any unit was in contact. He utilized his aircraft weapons system against the Viet Cong, personally directed innumerable small engagements, inflicted heavy casualties on the Viet Cong and saved countless American lives. Brigadier General Deane’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.