Stephen J. Dingle

By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918. For gallantry in action against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Dingle distinguished himself by intrepid actions on 25 April 1971, while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 52d Infantry. On that date the unit was conducting a day patrol in the mountainous jungle terrain south of Tra Bong, when the friendly element detected a force of North Vietnamese soldiers on a hill top. The lead element of the platoon was pinned down by an intense fusillade of rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire. Reacting immediately and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Staff Sergeant Dingle maneuvered part of his platoon around the enemy emplacements in order to place effective suppressive fire onto their positions. He continued to maneuver his men until the hostiles were routed, despite the fact that he was wounded in the arms and legs from an exploding rocket propelled grenade. Upon taking these positions, the friendly element spotted an enemy base camp at the bottom of the hill and moved to capture it. In the camp, they encountered and engaged a large force of North Vietnamese soldiers in well fortified positions. In the initial contact several friendly soldiers were wounded and many others pinned down. Staff Sergeant Dingle maneuvered through the hostile barrage to a position where he was able to silence a bunker with hand grenades and rout its defenders. He then rallied his men to assault the ***** ******* *********, driving them from the base camp. Staff Sergeant Dingle processed and directed the medical evacuation for his wounded comrades. His courageous actions and expert leadership undoubtedly saved the lives of several soldiers and contributed immeasurably to the subsequent defeat of the enemy. Staff Sergeant Dingle’s personal heroism, professional competence and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 23d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.