William W. Horn

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William W. Horn (OF-111624), First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), 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 Battery C, 1st Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Horn distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 April 1969 while serving as executive officer of two gun sections at Patrol Base Diamond. When the battery came under massive mortar and ground attack and communication land lines were severed, Lieutenant Horn left his bunker and raced through the deadly fusillade to supervise his howitzer crews. As the attacking communists pressed the perimeter defense, he rallied his men and directed their point-blank firing. In spite of the intense hostile barrages, he traversed one hundred fifty meters to the perimeter eighteen times to confer with forward observers and to radio information to his battery fire direction center. When a rocket-propelled grenade impacted upon an ammunition bunker, he fearlessly braved the hostile bombardment to extinguish the flames. He directed the firing of numerous beehive rounds which halted the enemy’s advance within ten meters of the perimeter. First Lieutenant Horn’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. 2283 (June 27, 1969)