- SURNAME
Lehew
- FORENAME
Donald Lee
- UNIT
5 SF Group (Company D,Det A-430)
- RANK
Sergeant First Class
- NUMBER
13479761
- AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1966
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/lehew-donald-lee.8671/CITATION:
Distinguished Service Cross : 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 Sergeant First Class Donald Lee Lehew (ASN: RA-13479761), 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 Detachment A-430, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Lehew distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 August 1966 as intelligence sergeant of a Special Forces unit conducting a mission on Phu Quoc Island. Following a sweeping action on a fortified hill, Sergeant Lehew skillfully deployed his troops to break up an enemy ambush. Under intense small arms fire, he helped move a wounded comrade to a safe position where he administered first aid to the man. While helping his detachment commander evacuate the dead and wounded from the battlefield after the engagement, he detected a hidden enemy bunker. A Viet Cong soldier began firing from the position, and Sergeant Lehew pushed his commander to the ground, saving the officer's life. As his unit maneuvered to join a relief force, he placed himself among the force's leading elements. After moving a short distance, two Viet Cong companies opened fire from entrenched positions, momentarily disorganizing his troops. Sergeant Lehew, by exemplary leadership, was able to rally his men and direct a tremendous volume of fire into the attackers. Refusing to pull back to a less exposed position, he instead charged alone into the enemy fusillade, deliberately assaulting the main insurgent position. He was mortally wounded while fearlessly and unselfishly placing the welfare of his men above his own in the heat of battle. His quick action threw the Viet Cong off balance long enough for air support to arrive and prevent the friendly force from being overwhelmed. Sergeant First Class Lehew's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, where in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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