Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

18 September 1965.

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Major (MAJ) Herbert John Dexter, served as the S-3 Officer with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, United States Army Vietnam, United States Army Vietnam. MAJ Dexter was Killed in Action (KIA) by small arms fire.

Distinguished Service Cross

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS

DURING Vietnam War

Service: Army

Rank: Major

Battalion: 2d Battalion (Airborne)

Division: 101st Airborne Division

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 Major Herbert J. Dexter, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 September 1965, Major Dexter, the S3 Officer of the 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, was accompanying his battalion on a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of Binh Khe, Republic of Vietnam. The battalion was airlifted to the operational area and upon arriving encountered increasingly heavy hostile fire from various insurgent positions. A friendly platoon, which had landed in a previous life, was forced to withdraw from a tactically important hill along the landing zone perimeter. Realizing the importance of the hill as a defensive position, Major Dexter, with complete disregard for his personal safety, voluntarily rushed to the now heavily infested hostile area and successfully reorganized the friendly forces positioned there. He quickly issued competent instructions and personally led the left flank element up the hill, despite the intense hostile small arms and mortar fire being directed at the platoon. While securing the crest, Major Dexter personally killed two insurgents who were at a deadly close range and sustained a leg wound from the murderous Viet Cong fire. Realizing that his leadership and encouragement were needed to inspire the members of the besieged platoon to hold the hill position, Major Dexter, although in great pain from his wound, continually refused to be evacuated. As the battle raged on, he was mortally wounded. Major Dexter'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.

HONORED ON PANEL 2E, LINE 86 OF THE WALL