KENNETH J. DAVID, a radio-telephone operator serving with the 101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Vietnam, was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross because of his extraordinary heroism on 7 May 1970. On that date, the company of which he was a member, came under attack from a large hostile force. Supported by intense small arms and automatic weapons fire, the enemy inflicted numerous casualties upon the allies and left Private David alone to defend his portion of the defensive perimeter. Unleashing a barrage of automatic weapons fire, he bitterly resisted all enemy efforts to overrun his position. When the enemy began to toss satchel charges in the direction of the wounded allied soldiers, Private David began to shout in a manner which attracted the enemy’s attention away from the allied casualties. Refusing to withdraw in the face of the concentrated fire now directed toward him, he continued to resist the attackers in a determined manner. Although wounded by an exploding satchel charge and running perilously low on ammunition, he tossed hand grenades toward the attackers to effectively counter their fire. Then after allied reinforcements fought their way to his position, Private David carried a wounded comrade to a sheltered position and returned to the contact area to engage the enemy until they broke contact and fled. Private First Class David’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. David joined the Legion of Valor in 1971 and resides in Ohio.