HEADQUARTERS

UNITED STATES ARMY VIETNAM

APC San Francisco 96307

NUMBER 5803

AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced.

TOTTEN, CLIFFORD R SERGEANT E-5 United States Army Co B, 1st Bn, 35th Inf, 3d Bde 25th Inf Div, APO 96355.

Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross

Date Action: 3 July 1966

Theater: Republic of Vietnam

Reason: For Extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Totten distinguished himself on 3 July 1966 while serving as artillery forward observer for a two squad patrol near Thang Duc. When his patrol received intense hostile fire from an estimated company of Viet Cong. a portion of the patrol was overrun and the reminder surrounded. Observing that he was about to be overrun himself, Sergeant Totten, with complete disregard for his safety, called in an uninterrupted barrage of artillery fire on his own position for a period of three hours. When his platoon leader was killed, Sergeant Totten immediately assumed command of the remaining men and organized a tight defensive perimeter. When their ammunition was expended, Sergeant Totten and one of his comrades dashed onto the battlefield to collect more. On five occasions during the repeated attacks on the perimeter, Sergeant Totten fearlessly picked up Viet Cong grenades and threw them back at the fanatical insurgents. A sixth hostile grenade exploded and wounded him in the arm. When reinforcements arrived, he pointed out the location of his men as well as nearby Viet Cong replacements. Sergeant Totten left the area after his seriously wounded comrades had been safely evacuated. Sergeant Totten’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United states Army.