FLOYD, ROBERT GENE
FLOYD, ROBERT GENE
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Company C, 3d Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Date of Action: March 31 & April 1, 1970
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert
Gene Floyd, 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, while serving with Company C, 3d Battalion,
503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Specialist Four Floyd distinguished
himself while serving as a member of a night offensive position in Phu Yen
Province. During the late evening hours of 31 March 1970, specialist Floyd and
his squad were positioned outside a small Vietnamese village when they were
attacked by a numerically superior force of enemy soldiers. During the initial
attack, the friendly machine gun position was heavily damaged by the enemy fire.
Specialist Floyd disregarded the devastating enemy fire to run to the aid of the
disabled machine gun crew. After administering to the wounded crew, Specialist
Floyd carried the machine gun to the heaviest point of enemy contact. From his
exposed position, Specialist Floyd placed devastating fire on the enemy elements
forcing them to retreat. The enemy regrouped and launched a second attack and
advanced to within thirty meters of Specialist Floyd's position. However, the
determined defensive fire of Specialist Floyd and his comrades again repulsed
the enemy. The enemy regrouped and launched a third attack on the position from
a different direction. Specialist Floyd moved through the intense enemy fire
again to position his machine gun at the heaviest point of enemy contact. As his
comrades fell wounded beside him, Specialist Floyd refused to withdraw. He
continued placing devastating machine gun fire on the enemy until he was killed
instantly by a barrage of enemy rocket fire. Specialist Floyd's extraordinary
heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, 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. 2067 (June 26, 1970)
Home Town: Fort Myers, Florida
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