SFC William E. Bercaw, USA, received the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in Vietnam on 2 May 1970. He was leading a four-vehicle armed convoy toward a rendezvous with forward allied elements located in Cambodia when a sudden burst of enemy fire swept through the lead element. The commander of the lead vehicle was mortally wounded by the fire and Sergeant Bercaw suffered a painful arm wound. Nevertheless, the sergeant immediately assumed command of the vehicle and organized the confused crew nto an effective fighting unit. While directing the fire of his men, he crawled across an exposed portion of his vehicle to man an automatic weapon. Although seriously wounded, he continued to fire the weapon until he exhausted his ammunition. He then secured the tank commander’s rifle and expended all available ammunition toward the enemy. During the entire contract, Sergeant Bercaw continuously exposed himself to teh hail of enemy fire in order to direct the actions of his men and move the convoy out of the contact area. Although wounded three times, his determined actions enabled the convoy to depart the contact area while suffering only minimal casualties. Platoon Sergeant Bercaw’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

SFC. Bercaw joined the Legion of Valor in 1975.