Captain Joseph W. Eszes, received the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism while a first lieutenant with Troop C, 16th Cavalry, in Vietnam on 9 December 1971. His troop was conducting a visual reconnaissance in search of a North Vietnamese battalion. Two heliocopters had initated low-level reconnaissance when both were shot down by a deadly barrage of enemy fire. CPT Eszes, monitoring the situation from an outpost, started for the battle site. A command and control helicopter had successfully evacuated one crew but was unable to reach the other ship due to instense enemy fire. CPT Eszes three times tried to unsuccessfully to reach the downed helicopter crew. When his ship was gushing fuel due to a bullet damage, he returned to the outpost, got another ship and resumed rescue attempts. His fourth attempt was thwarted when his windshield was shattered by a hail of fire. A fifth time he attempted an approach and was successful in getting to the downed helicopter. However, after a quick visual search of the area, the magnitude and proximity of the enemy fire forced him to depart. As they were lifting off, an explosion around the downed helicopter quelled any hope of the two crewmen serviving.CPT Eszes’s heroism brings great credit to him and the U.S. Army.

Col. Eszes joined the Legion of Valor in 1974. He is a life member and resides in Alabama.