PLATOON SERGEANT DONALD L. HENDERSON, for extraordinary heroism on 6 March 1968 while on a seventeen-man night ambush patrol in Dinh Tuong Provice, Vietnam. His small unit was suddenly subjected to a heavy automatic weapons and rocket attack from three sides. Crawling from man to man, Sergeant Henderson discovered that three men, including his platoon leader, had been killed and six others were too seriously wounded to return fire. He skillfully organized the remainder of the group and directed counterfire on the enemy, killing at least four of the attackers. After bringing the wounded within the perimeter he had established, he assigned one man to care for them while he distributed ammunition and offered encouragement to his beleagured force. As he exposed himself to the Viet Cong weapons to better adjust supporting artillery fire, Sergeant Henderson received gunshot wounds in his left leg and right foot. Refusing to be placed with the other casualties, he directed gunship attacks and artillery strikes on the enemy. He then secured a landing zone and directed the helicopter evacuation of the wounded. Despite the pain of his injuries, he remained with the rest of his men and successfully led them to safety. Staff Sergeat Henderson’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.

Mr. Henderson joined the Legion of Valor in 1970.