Luther L. Woods

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Luther L. Woods (0-99029), Captain (Infantry), 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, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Captain Woods distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 19 to 23 July 1966, while commanding Company C, 327th Infantry during a search and destroy operation near Trung Luong. Shortly after being helilifted into the area, the company made contact with an entrenched Viet Cong force. Rather than risk heavy casualties, Captain Woods called in artillery and air strikes while he established a perimeter. Throughout the night, he dauntlessly exposed himself to harassing mortar and automatic weapons fire to direct the defense. After successfully repulsing a fierce Viet Cong assault on the morning of 20 June, Caption Woods ordered two platoons into a counterattack. When they suffered serious casualties, he committed his reserve and aggressively moved along the line and affected an orderly withdrawal. The next day, when one of his platoons was cut off and pinned down, he secured a helicopter to determine the disposition of the unit. His aircraft distracted enough Viet Cong fire to allow the besieged platoon to break out of the hostile crossfire. As he flew over his company positions, Captain Woods noticed that insurgent strong points completely surrounded his perimeter. He requested and received reinforcements and quickly deployed them in the defenses for the night. Just before dawn on 22 June, the insurgents launched an intense mortar attack followed by human wave assaults. During the next several hours, Captain Woods displayed exceptional courage and inspired leadership, as he was always present at the most critical position, directing the defensive fire and encouraging his men. At the conclusion of the battle, 96 insurgents had been killed. Refusing to extract his men without their dead, he again led his company against the remaining Viet Cong on 23 June and recovered the bodies. Captain Woods’ unimpeachable valor 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.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 189 (January 15, 1967)