DANIEL EDWARD EVANS, JR. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Five Evans distinguished himself with exceptionally valorous actions on 25 March 1969 while serving as medical aidman on a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Fire Support Base Danger in Kien Phong Province. Air-inserted elements of his company were approaching a denseley vegetated woodline when they were suddenly enveloped in a barrage of hostile automatic weapons fire from well-camouflaged bunkers. Seeing a trooper downed by the initial bursts, he crawled through ditches and dashed over open terrain to the wounded soldier. After dressing the soldier’s critical chest wound, he dragged the casualty on a makeshift litter with the help of another infantryman through volleys of exploding rocket-propelled grenades to a rear area. Following artillery and air strikes on the enemy fortifications, a second assault was initiated on the hostile positions and immediately checked by suppressive enemy fire. Again Specialist Evans responded to the needs of a downed trooper. Dodging machine gun fire, he crawled and sprinted thirty meters to the wounded man and treated him while enemy fire saturated the area. Seeing yet another soldier hit in the storm of bullets, he attempted several times without success to crawl to him. Undaunted by the suppressive fire, he finally reached the casualty, dressed his severe chest wound, and dragged him to rear safety. Specialist Evans then darted from position to position to aid two other wounded troopers, crawling within fifty meters of the enemy bunkers to aid one man. Lying prone he bandaged the soldier’s wound and enlisted fellow infantrymen to drag the man to the rear. For more than five hours he exposed himself to hostile fire to bring prompt medical attention to his fallen comrades. Specialist Evans’ 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. Evans joined the Legion of Valor in 1988 and resides in Ohio.