BRISCOE, CHARLES H.
BRISCOE, CHARLES H.
Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army
Company C, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Date of Action: June 17, 1968
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles
H. Briscoe, Captain (Infantry), 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 Company C, 4th Battalion,
503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Captain Briscoe distinguished himself by
exceptionally valorous actions on 17 June 1968 while leading an infantry
company. During the initial probe of an enemy battalion's stronghold, Captain
Briscoe learned that several wounded were trapped in a field raked by enemy
fire. He rushed to the forefront and led an assault to recover the wounded
personnel. As he and his headquarters element came in sight of the wounded they
began drawing fire from two bunkers armed with heavy machine guns. He crawled
toward his senior aidman who was lying wounded in a clearing, firing his
submachine gun at the bunkers in an effort to pin the enemy gunner down.
Unmindful of the intense small arms fire from two bunkers, Captain Briscoe, with
complete disregard for his own life, single-handedly assaulted the bunkers with
hand grenades destroying both of them, killing their occupants. As he dragged
the wounded aidman toward cover, an intense volley of heavy machinegun fire
killed the aidman, narrowly missing Captain Briscoe. In spite of continued heavy
enemy fire, he returned, located, and dragged his wounded forward observer out
of the line of enemy fire, being himself wounded in the process. Overcoming his
own pain, he continued to pull his wounded comrade toward cover. When another
burst of enemy fire killed the forward observer, Captain Briscoe began crawling
backward toward his unit's perimeter. As he attempted to evade the enemy fire,
he fell into a concealed well. In spite of his wounds and awkward predicament,
he kept command of his company. Calling to his radiomen above, he rallied his
men and relayed the necessary instructions to form a defensive perimeter within
the base camp. By relaying directions to his radiomen, Captain Briscoe directed
a determined defense that successfully repulsed two enemy counterattacks.
Following his rescue from the well, Captain Briscoe directed air strikes into
the base camp to cover his company's withdrawal to a more defensible position
and remained throughout the seven-hour battle, refusing to be evacuated until
all his men had been cared for. His valor and total disregard for his own safety
inspired his men to success against a numerically larger enemy force. Captain
Briscoe's 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.
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 31 (July 1, 1971)
http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/07_RVN-dsc/dsc_07RVN-armyA.html