Staff Sergeant Leon Peoples was awared the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his extraordinary heroism in conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 26 April 1968, Sergeant Peoples distinguished himself by extraordinary valorous actions while leading a fire team on a search and destroy mission in Phu Bai Province. After long hours of exhausting and indecisive battle, Sergeant Peoples’ platoon had made little progress in precisely locating the enemy’s bunker fortifications in the thick, mountainous jungle. Discontented with his unit’s stalmated advance, Sergeant Peoples crawled alone toward the North Vietnamese to reconnoiter their positions. When in sight of the first bunker, he was spotted and turned back by heavy fire. He then gathered his fire team and initated a flanking maneuver on the enemy bunker. As the team advanced, the enemy opend up on them with streams of automatic weapons fire which held them fast to the ground and wounded many. Sergeant Peoples then drew the attention of the communist firepower by rushing them and dropping behind available cover as he assaulted. With grenades prepared for immediate detonation he made a final spring and dived for cover as the ejected grenades ripped through the hostile stronghold. Detecting a second bunker from which the enemy were placing suppressive fire on his team, Sergeant Peoples stole near the emplacement and unleashed on it several well-placed grenades. After dropping back for resupplies of ammunition, he again infiltrated the enemy complex under thick fire and crawled without rifle up to a third bunker and eliminated its occupants with grenades. Picking up an enemy weapon, he then began routing the demoralized communists as they frantically retreated. Sergeant Peoples’ extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were inkeeping and highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

SSG Peoples joined the Legion of Valor in 1973 and resides in Virginia.