Anthony Edward Kunz

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Anthony Edward Kunz (US54374076), Sergeant, 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 Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Kunz distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 May 1967 while serving as pointman with an infantry company during a search and destroy mission near the Cambodian border. When his unit engaged a Viet Cong force, Sergeant Kunz moved fearlessly from one man to another to position them and direct their fire. He organized his element into a small perimeter and began to locate hostile positions. As he moved about, he received a serious abdominal wound, but continued inflict casualties on the enemy. When the Viet Cong tried to envelop his company, Sergeant Kunz spotted three insurgents moving toward his perimeter to set up a sniper position. He ran to engage them and killed them all with a burst of rifle fire. As he made his way back to his unit’s perimeter, Sergeant Kunz was fired upon by two machine gun emplacements. Still bleeding and in pain from his previous wound, he pulled himself forward using vines and undergrowth to within hand grenade range of the enemy positions. He then got to his feet and threw a grenade which destroyed both hostile weapons. Sergeant Kunz was morally wounded in the tremendous outburst of fire that followed this courageous act. Sergeant Kunz’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. 3883 (July 29, 1967)