ALLEN, TERRY DE LA MESA, JR.

Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), U.S. Army

Headquarters and Headquarters Company
2d Battalion
28th Infantry Regiment
1st Infantry Division

Date of Action: 17 October 1967

CITATION:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Terry De La Mesa Allen, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Allen distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 October 1967 while serving as Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion on a search and destroy operation near Chon Thanh. While moving to locate a suspected enemy base camp, a forward patrol of his unit detected a lone Viet Cong soldier and noises that indicated others were in the area. The element immediately deployed in an attempt to engage the insurgents. It was suddenly attacked by a large enemy force, and Colonel Allen quickly positioned the remainder of his men in a defensive perimeter, established radio contact with the beleaguered patrol, and ordered its withdrawal to his position so that artillery and air strikes could be directed on the hostile positions. As the forward element began to pull back, the main force's flank was savagely attacked with devastating automatic weapons, rocket and claymore weapons fire. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Colonel Allen repeatedly exposed himself to the withering barrage and moved among his men, skillfully directing the defenses and encouraging his troops to fight fiercely against the determined attackers. Accurate concentrations of enemy fire inflicted numerous casualties to his men and he was seriously wounded himself, but he refused medical attention and remained in the open to control the defenses and the movement of the forward element which was still attempting to join his main force. He was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his men in the face of overwhelming odds. His fearless actions in the heat of battle inspired his unit to staunchly defend its critical position until reinforcements arrived and the hostile forces were decisively defeated. Lieutenant Colonel Allen'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.

HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6615 (December 26, 1967)

Allen, Terry De La Mesa, Jr., LTC