COLONEL JAMES D. ROGERS received the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in Vietnam during the period 8-10 December 1965. On 8 December, the South Vietnamese ranger battalion to which the then Captain Rogers was assigned as Senior Advisor, came under heavy hostile mortar and small arms fire which wounded the battalion commander and his radio operator. After administering first aid, Captain Rogers elected to remain behind to provide fire for the withdrawal of the wounded. While moving to join the remainder of the personnel assigned to the command post, he noticed four insurgents attempting a flanking movement. Killing three of the insurgents, Captain Rogers was forced to withdraw through a partially destroyed village. Captain Rogers saw the wounded battalion commander lying on the ground exposed to insurgent fire. Without regard for his own personal safety, he shouldered his wounded comrade-in-arms and carried him, under intensive fire, to the battalion medic. He exposed himself to a continuous hail of small arms fire while supervising the remainder of the battalion in preperation for withdrawal. Captain Rogers personally attended the wounded, redistributed ammunition, and inspired both Vietnamese and United States personnel by his examples of dedication to duty and concern for the welfare of the individual soldier without regard to personal safety. Captain Rogers’ extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.

COL Rogers is a life member of the Legion of Valor and was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame at Ft. Benning, Georgia on July 9, 2002. He joined the Legion of Valor in 1971.