- SURNAME
Lopez
- FORENAME
Manuel Torres
- UNIT
5 SF Group (Company D,Det A-402) (4 M.S.F.C.)
- RANK
Sergeant First Class
- NUMBER
38707253
- AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross,Bronze Star,Air Medal,Army Commendation Medal with V device
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1967 (BS) 1968 (DSC,ACM)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/lopez-manuel-torres.9085/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 Manuel Torres Lopez (ASN: RA-38707253), 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 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Lopez distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 June 1968 near Moc Hoa, Republic of Vietnam, as platoon leader of an Irregular Mobile Strike Force Company conducting a heliborne insertion into an enemy-occupied landing zone. Upon learning of the critical wounds of a fellow soldier, Sergeant Lopez located and retrieved him by crawling under intense and accurate enemy fire from a nearby woodline. As the unit sustained additional casualties, Sergeant Lopez secured a radio and again crawled forward against intense machinegun fire, mortars and rockets to carry more wounded back to the medical evacuation point. Moving forward a third time, he was knocked unconscious by the concussion of a B-40 rocket. Upon recovering, he refused medical evacuation for himself and moved toward the woodline from where he carried another American and three irregulars to another helicopter under heavy fire. While assisting yet other irregular soldiers pinned down by enemy fire, Sergeant Lopez fell mortally wounded. During the several hours that he moved about the battlefield assisting others, his bravery, courage and determination saved fourteen of his comrades. His continued feats of heroism in the face of certain death inspired his men to whom retreat or hesitation was unnecessary in the knowledge that he was among them. Sergeant Lopez's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.
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