ARMENT, DIXON G.
ARMENT, DIXON G.
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Company A, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Date of Action: October 5, 1965
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Dixon G.
Arment, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile
force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 October 1965, Specialist Arment was
accompanying his unit, Company A, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne
Brigade, on a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of Bien Hoa, Republic
of Vietnam. The battalion soon came under a heavy insurgent attack and
Specialist Arment's platoon was given the mission of making a flanking assault
to destroy several hostile machine gun emplacements which were directing
extremely accurate fire into the battalion positions. As the platoon maneuvered
forward, it was subjected to a deadly hail of Viet Cong automatic weapons fire
which split the friendly force into two separate groups. As the battle raged on,
Specialist Arment's small group fought to within close range of the insurgent
trenches and observed that a contingent of Viet Cong reinforcements were moving
into the area. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist
Arment quickly charged into the midst of the advancing hostile force, despite a
murderous barrage of grenades and automatic weapons fire which immediately
engulfed him, and continued to move forward to within inches of the insurgent
machine guns, killing seven insurgents and completely disrupting the Viet Cong's
reinforcement attempt. Notwithstanding the fact that he was wounded by a burst
of hostile fire which hit him in the face, Specialist Arment continued to place
devastating fire upon the insurgents until he was ordered to the rear for
medical treatment. Despite painful wounds, he returned again and again to the
battle area, carrying ammunition and aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel.
Specialist Arment's extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action were in
keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great
credit upon himself and the military service.
HQ US Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 45 (February 28, 1966)
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