On 12 March 1969, CSM James C. Gilbert, RA 44041639, as a part of the First Brigade Command Group participated in three attempts to land and extract five seriously wounded members of A Company, 1/8^th Infantry.  The company had made contact with a withdrawing element of NVA forces moving out of the Polei Kleng area.  The first time the aircraft approached the emergency LZ the craft was waived off because of enemy fire.  Forty five minutes later a second attempt was made and although the UH-1 got into the LZ, enemy fire caused the pilot to lift out because the wounded could not be brought the few yards to the aircraft.  CSM Gilbert throughout these attempts was firing his weapon directly into the enemy positions from his door seat on the right side of the craft.  On the final attempt the aircraft approached to the left of the LZ and CSM Gilbert unfastened his harness, left his seat, and moved into the doorway to fire directly into the enemy positions, directing the door gunner’s fire and pinning the enemy down while the aircraft moved into the LZ.  Once again the wounded could not be moved because of enemy fire.  In this interval the aircraft took repeated hits in the fuselage and the plexi-glass on the pilot’s side of the aircraft.  The pilot was cut and blinded by the shattered plexi-glass and the door-gunner on the right side was hit and his M-60 incapacitated.  CSM Gilbert kept up his steady fire in spite of the enemy fire and the evasive actions of the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft to gain altitude enough to clear the area.  Exposing himself without concern for his own safety, he was firing into the last enemy position in the area when he was hit by a burst from an automatic weapon.  It was only by his heroism and complete disregard for his personal safety that the aircraft, crew, and Command Group were saved. 

CSM Gilbert’s actions were in keeping with the fighting tradition of the Fourth Infantry Division and are deserving of a Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his valorous actions.

                                                                                                                Hale H. Knight

                                                                                                                Colonel, Infantry

                                                                                                                Commanding