Samuel R. Stewart III

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Samuel R. Stewart, III (0-5220757), 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 Advisory Team 70, 5th Infantry Division Advisory Detachment, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Captain Stewart distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as staff advisor to a Vietnamese regiment during an enemy attack on its headquarters compound at Ben Cat. During the early morning hours, a large Viet Cong force, armed with rockets, mortars, automatic weapons and flamethrowers, unleashed a furious assault on the installation and overran its perimeter bunker line. Captain Stewart went to the immediate defense of the communications bunker and raked the attackers with automatic rifle fire from its firing port. An enemy rocket exploded in the firing port and partially destroyed the position. The weapons of other personnel in the bunker were lost in the debris, but Captain Stewart, although seriously wounded by the blast, immediately began to fire again. When his rifle jammed, he fearlessly raced through a withering hail of hostile fire and acquired additional weapons from the advisory team’s quarters. Returning to the position, Captain Stewart placed deadly fire on the insurgents at close range from a sandbag barrier behind the wrecked bunker. A Vietnamese woman and her four children approached his position, and he quickly guided them to safety and then continued firing. Braving an intense barrage of rockets and grenades directed at him, Captain Stewart fought fiercely from his exposed position, killing at least three assaulting Viet Cong and preventing many more enemy from entering the compound. He was rendered unconscious by a critical second wound while gallantly defending fellow soldiers and civilians against a determined enemy force. Captain Stewart’s extraordinary heroism 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. 1568 (April 8, 1968)