1LT Douglas M. Falck was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School Class 54-67 on 21 September 1967. 1LT Falck distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action while leading a platoon of Company A, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division during a combat mission on 16 May 1968 in which he led a six-man patrol through bunkers that eliminated enemy mortar positions. Lieutenant Falck’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty allowed his company to successfully attack the enemy’s outer defensive perimeter, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS CITATION:  For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Second Lieutenant Falck distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions of 16 May 1968 as a platoon leader of an infantry company during a combat mission on Hill 352. Lieutenant Falck volunteered to lead a six-man patrol up the northwest side of the hill to probe an enemy mortar position. While moving up the hill, the team encountered three barricades of concertina wire around the entrenched enemy’s bunker line. Lieutenant Falck spread his men out and advanced alone to reconnoiter the hostile positions. When he was fired on by an enemy guard in one of the bunkers, he charged the soldier’s position and killed him with small arms fire. He then assaulted through a hail of point-blank machine gun fire to silence two weapons in a second bunker and was wounded. Ignoring his wounds, he continued his assault and killed another enemy soldier. He then returned to his team and reported to his company which was attacking the enemy’s outer defensive perimeter. The North Vietnamese troops began firing their mortars to turn the company back. Lieutenant Falck maneuvered his team into position and silenced the weapons, eliminating two more hostile positions. Second Lieutenant Falck’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Lieutenant Falck’s highest military awards include: the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart w/ OLC, Bronze Star Medal w/ OLC, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge.