Distinguished Service Cross

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War

Service: Army

Rank: Private First Class

Battalion: 3d Battalion

Division: 9th Infantry Division

GENERAL ORDERS:

Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2280 (May 21, 1967)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class William P. Fesken (ASN: US-51973970), United States 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 A, 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Private First Class Fesken distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 May 1967 while serving as squad leader during combat with a numerically superior Viet Cong force near Ap Bac. Private Fesken led his squad as point element on his company's right flank. As his men advanced, insurgents struck with a tremendous barrage of machine gun, rifle, and grenade fire, leaving only Private Fesken unwounded. After pinning the friendly squad down, the Viet Cong assaulted the squad and attempted to overrun it. Private Fesken refused to withdraw and poured such a volume of fire into their ranks that they retreated. On a second attack, he again stood his ground, driving them off with grenade fire. When the insurgents attempted a third attack, Private Fesken killed two Viet Cong with a grenade and other in hand-to-hand combat. Anticipating further assaults, he crept forward to place a claymore mine in the path of the enemy. While he was mounting the firing device, however, Private Fesken was mortally wounded. Because of his valiant, selfless attempts to protect his fallen comrades, the right flank of the friendly company withstood the hostile assaults. Private First Class Fesken'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.