Early on the afternoon of 15 April, Captain D’Avignon was directed to maneuver his company to the aid of Charlie Company which was then engaged in extremely heavy contact approximately one thousand meters north of the battalion fire base. Captain D’Avignon immediately alerted his three rifle platoons for movement to the abttle. As the three platoons and Captain D’Avignon neared the contact area, they received intense hostile fire from their flank, front, rear and plunging fire from snipers located in the trees. The enemy had at their disposal small arms, automatic weapons, light machine guns, rockets, and mortars, all of which they were employing effectively. Captain D’Avignon maneuvered his third platoon forward and commanded his first and second platoons to set up a defensive line to the rear of Charlie Company leaving an opening in the center. This later proved to be the only escape route for the badly hit company and insured their safe return to the perimeter taking the least number of casualties possible. At this time, Captain D’Avignon moved forward with his third platoon, charging the enemy positions. While advancing, Captain D’Avignon was hit in the thighs by rounds from an enemy machine gun position. Still in complete control of himself and his company, Captain D’Avignon continued moving forward, leading a devastating attack on the enemy positions. As he was moving forward, an enemy sniper fired two rounds which struck Captain D’Avignon in the back and exited through his stomach, causing a massive open cavity in his lower abdomen. Although seriously wounded, he continued leading his men. As Captain D’Avignon advanced, he reached an enemy machine gun position that was putting out a devastating amount of fire and causing several elements of his company to be pinned down. After reaching the machine gun position, Captain D’Avignon fired four rounds from his pump shotgun, killing the four members of the machine gun crew and destroying the weapon. While returning to the second platoon location, Captain D’Avignon spotted several seriously wounded members of his unit. Rushing to their aid, he immediately started giving first aid until medics could be summoned. As Captain D’Avignon was tending to one wounded man, another enemy sniper shot rang out striking Captain D’Avignon in the right shoulder. By this time, Captain D’Avignon had lost so much blood that he was unable to get to his unit. As the medics came, he redirected them to other wounded men. He made sure that all of the wounded had been taken to safety and then allowed the medics to treat and evacuate him. Although seriously wounded and in great pain, Captain D’Avignon refused to give up, maintaining command of his unit until he was sure that all the wounded had been evacuated. As a result of Captain D’Avignon’s fearless and professional actions, countless lives were saved and the morale and fighting effectiveness of his unit were boosted. Despite suffering four killed and sixteen wounded, Company D remained a solid, effective fighting force, inflicting severe casualties upon the enemy. Captain D’Avignon^’s personal bravery, devotion to duty, and endurance are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, our efforts in, Vietnam, and the United States Army.