Charles Edward Clay

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Charles Edward Clay (RA55657964), Specialist Fourth Class, 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, 2d Battalion, 34th Armor, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Clay distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 February 1969 as a squad leader with an ambush patrol composed of nine Americans and seven Popular Force soldiers. Shortly after the small unit set up an ambush near the village of Trung An, an estimated company of North Vietnamese entered their killing zone. In spite of the numerical superiority of the enemy, Specialist Clay initiated contact by detonating claymore mines and firing his machine gun. Although wounded by the communists’ return fire, he continued to man the machine gun until a rocket-propelled grenade destroyed the weapon and almost severed his right leg. Disregarding his grievous injury, he crawled to a vantage point from which he directed the fire of the less experienced members of the patrol while reloading magazines and shouting words of encouragement. Another rocket-propelled grenade struck his exposed position, severing his right arm, but Specialist Clay continued to direct and encourage his comrades for the remainder of the battle. When the enemy withdrew an ambulance helicopter arrived and he was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Specialist Four Clay’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. 1539 (April 30, 1969)