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Distinguished Service Cross in Honor of Master Sergeant Henry "Hank" F. Beck Jr. United States Army, Retired

Army Multimedia and Visual Information Division

Feb. 27, 2017 | 23:45

FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM:

In connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as assistant recon team leader with Hawk-14, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. On 25 February 1967 Specialist Four Beck's team came under heavy enemy small arms fire as they dismounted their helicopter. After the team assembled and began to move to cover, Specialist Four Beck observed a partially concealed two-man sniper team twenty meters away. To protect his team, Specialist Four Beck exposed himself to enemy fire to throw a smoke grenade and call for suppressive fire while he ran across the open terrain to the spider hole. He then eliminated the sniper team with rifle fire and hand grenades. Upon returning to his team, he noticed an enemy machine gun crew firing upon them. Again without regard to his personal safety and at extreme personal risk, Specialist Four Beck turned and charged the gun position alone and succeeded in killing the surprised five-man gun crew. Specialist Four Beck threw hand grenades into the enemy positions, and then called in air strikes to destroy the Viet-Cong complex. Through his courage and personal engagement with the enemy, Specialist Four Beck prevented the remainder of his patrol from being overrun and directly prevented the loss of American lives. Specialist Four Beck's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest
traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

Invocation
Chaplain (Major General) Paul K. Hurley

Remarks by
General Mark A. Milley
Chief of Staff of the Army

Remarks by
Master Sergeant Henry "Hank" F. Beck Jr.
United States Army, Retired