Daniel Wood

Daniel WoodDaniel Wood, SPECIALIST FOUR, United States Army, Company D, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division: For extraordinary heroism with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Specialist Four Wood distinguished himself while participating in combat operations in Svay Rieng Province, Republic of Cambodia on 10 May 1970. On this date, Specialist Wood and his unit had just entered an apparently deserted Cambodian village when they were suddenly ambushed by a well concealed enemy force. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Specialist Wood immediately charged the nearest enemy position and silenced it with a flurry of accurate fire. Observing several comrades pinned down in the murderous enemy crossfire, the specialist then began a series of assaults on three other enemy positions, systematically destroying each with the aid of a comrade. After running low on ammunition, Specialist Wood ran back through the fusillade to secure additional ammunition and immediately resumed his determined assault. Locating an enemy command bunker in a heavily fortified position, the specialist advanced to within a few meters of the position and destroyed it with fragmentation grenades. After destroying three more enemy bunkers in a similar manner, Specialist Wood was seriously wounded by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar round that landed between him and several other companions. Ignoring his own painful wounds, he dragged the other wounded allies to positions of relative safety. He then returned to his original position and destroyed two more hostile positions with the aid of other comrades. When the friendly unit was directed to move to a nearby helicopter evacuation point, Specialist Wood remained to the rear of the withdrawal to cover his companions and assist the wounded to the area. The specialist continued his determined actions until directed by his commanding officer to board one of the rescue helicopters. Specialist Four Wood’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.