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The Distinguished Service Cross

Editor's Note

Thanks to Richard J. Arnold, who served in Vietnam with Jasper Dean Sturdivant, we were informed by Richard that Jasper is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.  Also known as the DSC, this award is the second highest award in our country next to the Medal of Honor.  Richard Arnold was kind enough to send me a copy of the actual orders typed authorizing the DSC to be bestowed upon Jasper posthumously shortly after his death in 1966.

The following is exactly how the orders were typed as the text from the original orders may not be that clear.

Sean Curtis

November 19, 2002

HEADQUARTERS

UNITED STATES ARMY VIETNAM

APO San Francisco  96307

3 October 1966

GENERAL ORDERS

NUMBER 5894

AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

1, TC 320 The Distinguished Service Cross is AWARDED posthumously to:

STURDIVANT, JASPER D  05326494  SECOND LIEUTENANT  INFANTRY  United States Army, Co B, 1st Bn, 35th Infantry, 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div, APO  96355

DATE ACTION: 3 July 1966

THEATER: Republic of Vietnam

REASON: For extraordinary heroism in connection with the military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam.   On 3 July 1966, Second Lieutenant Sturdivant was leading a two squad patrol during a search and destroy near Thang Duc.  When his unit received intense hostile fire from a reinforced Viet Cong company, Second Lieutenant Sturdivant and many of his men were seriously wounded.  As the insurgent onslaught continued, a portion of his hasty defense was overrun and the remainder of his force was surrounded.  Despite the severity of his wounds and repeated attacks by the fanatical Viet Cong, Second Lieutenant Sturdivant rallied his isolated force, radioed for reinforcements, and continued to direct and encourage his comrades.  Realizing that his force was about to be overrun, Second Lieutenant Sturdivant, with complete disregard for his own safety, called artillery onto his own position in an effort to break the encirclement.  He continued to operate the radio and fire his weapon until his ammunition was expended.  Fully aware that he was critically wounded, Second Lieutenant Sturdivant disassembled his weapon, placed the bolt under his body, and died.  Second Lieutenant Sturdivant's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

AUTHORITY: By direction of the President, under the provisions of Act of Congress, approved 25 July 1963, and Department of the Army message 782774, dated 19 September 1966

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