ANAGNOSOTOPOULOS, JAMES
ANAGNOSOTOPOULOS, JAMES
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry
Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Date of Action: February 27, 1968
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James
Anagnosotopoulos, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile
force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne
Brigade. Private First Class Anagnosotopoulos distinguished himself by
exceptionally valorous actions on 27 February 1968 while serving as a company
medic during a search and destroy operation southwest of Kontum City. Contact
was made with a North Vietnamese Army company, and several members of his unit's
lead element were wounded in the first moments of the ensuing fire fight.
Despite heavy concentrations of automatic weapons fire, Private Anagnosotopoulos
raced across one hundred and fifty meters of open terrain to treat his wounded
comrades. After pulling a seriously injured platoon leader to cover and giving
him first aid, he moved forward to three casualties who were within ten meters
of an enemy machine gun. As he worked on the wounded the North Vietnamese
machine gunner raised up and began firing on his position. Private
Anagnosotopoulos killed the enemy soldier with his pistol. He then completed
giving aid to the three men and also treated two new casualties amid hostile
sniper fire and hand grenades directed against him. He next organized the
evacuation of his patients to a helicopter landing zone, personally carrying
three of the wounded through the continuing enemy fire. When heavy fighting
erupted a second time, Private Anagnosotopoulos rushed across one hundred meters
of exposed land and aided in the rescue of five more wounded comrades. Private
First Class Anagnosotopoulos' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great
credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4758 (October 14, 1968)
http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/07_RVN-dsc/dsc_07RVN-armyA.html