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HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON, DC
GENERAL
ORDERS
15 December 1969
No. 85
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. By direction of
the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 25
July 1963, the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in
action, is awarded posthumously to:
Sergeant Daniel M. Noeldner, United States
Army, who distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving
as a senior medical aidman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, near Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam,
on 6 March 1969. On that day Sergeant Noeldner was serving with Company
D, 2d Battalion, when it was ambushed by a force of the North Vietnamese
Army. Several men in the point element were hit by the initial volley of
fire and
the cry for "Medic" was heard. Completely disregarding the
intensity of the enemy attack and his own safety, Sergeant Noeldner
rushed forward to the side of his wounded comrades. While treating the
first man that he reached, he was wounded in the thigh. Refusing medical
treatment for himself, he continued to assist the wounded while
repeatedly exposing himself to the fire of the enemy force. Shortly
thereafter he was again hit by enemy rounds while assisting his fellow
soldiers. While attempting to bandage himself to stop the profuse
bleeding another medic came to his aid, but Sergeant Noeldner directed
him to check the other injured men. Although the crippling effect of his
wounds prevented him from continuing his gallant mission, Sergeant
Noeldner had significantly contributed to saving the lives of two men at
the sacrifice of his own. His extraordinary heroism at the cost of his
own life, above and beyond the call of duty, was in keeping with the
highest traditions of time United States Army and reflects great credit
upon him and the Armed Forces of his country. |