Roberto Pacheco, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Roberto Pacheco, Jr. (RA19330456), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class Pacheco distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Saradong, Korea, on 9 August 1950. In the course of an attack on an enemy-held hill, Private First Class Pacheco’s platoon was pinned down by murderous a murderous hail of enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. Upon receiving word from one of his comrades that his platoon leader had been wounded, Corporal Pacheco took the initiative and charged up the forward slopes in the face of intense enemy fire. Upon reaching high ground, he paused momentarily to survey an enemy position to his front. Upon spotting a number of the enemy, he lobbed grenades and fired his automatic weapon into their midst. The enemy became so surprised and bewildered by this one-man onslaught that they left their positions and fled in panic. Taking full advantage of their rout, Corporal Pacheco charged on the retreating enemy, firing his weapon on the run. Single-handedly the hill was wrested and secured for the platoon to occupy. In this outstanding display of aggressiveness and courage, Private First Class Pacheco personally accounted for at least thirty of the enemy dead and was solely responsible in causing the withdraw of the remainder.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 42 (January 26, 1951)