Ricardo Cardenas

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Ricardo Cardenas, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of Company F, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Captain Cardenas distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chat- Kol, Korea, on the morning of 13 June 1953. On that date, Captain Cardenas’ company was defending positions along the United Nations main line of resistance. When the enemy threatened to rout a Republic of Korea Army unit in an adjacent area, Captain Cardenas voluntarily proceeded to the sector, reorganized a portion of the troops, and personally led a counter-attack which regained over four hundred yards of territory. The following evening, the enemy subjected Captain Cardenas’ company to an intense artillery barrage and destroyed all communications. Noticing that the enemy forces were approaching the right flank of the company, Captain Cardenas fearlessly left the comparative safety of the command post to alert his men. Completely disregarding his personal safety, he moved through the heavy fire to an open trench and, after three futile attempts, succeeded in firing a warning flare. Continuing to brave the bombardment, Captain Cardenas then directed the defense of the position and personally killed two of the enemy. Although wounded, he refused to he evacuated until the area was secured.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 1000 (November 10, 1953)