Distinguished Service Cross

The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army (and previously, the United States Army Air Forces). It is awarded for extraordinary heroism:

  • While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States;
  • While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
  • While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Distinguished Service Cross is equivalent to the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).

First Lieutenant John K. Kauhaihao

Company C, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment

First Lieutenant John K. Kauhaihao, 27, was born in Honaunau / Capt. Cook, Hawaiʻi, April 17, 1942. He enlisted in the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard as an infantryman with Company C (-), 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry. His parent unit, the 29th Infantry Brigade was mobilized May 13, 1968. Kauhaihao was levied to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Army Vietnam, May 22, 1969 and was killed in action less than four months later, on Sept. 5. He died of multiple fragmentation wounds in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam. 

Kauhaihao awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Service Star Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) John Kuulei Kauhaihao, 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 Company B, 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). First Lieutenant Kauhaihao distinguished himself during a reconnaissance-in-force operation in Tay Ninh Province. He was leading his platoon over thick jungle terrain at the point of their company when they were fired upon by a battalion-size force of North Vietnamese regulars occupying bunker fortifications. Lieutenant Kauhaihao quickly directed his men to cover behind several large, bamboo covered dirt mounds. As the rest of the company moved up to lend supporting fire to the pinned down point element, they were caught in a crossfire from flanking enemy bunkers. Seizing upon a momentary lull in the exchange of fire, Lieutenant Kauhaihao then hacked an opening through the bamboo growing over the dirt mound behind which he took cover. In the next fifteen minutes, he hurled more than thirty hand grenades through this opening at the enemy bunkers. In so doing, Lieutenant Kauhaihao drew enemy fire on himself again and again so that his men could sight enemy gunners and bring them under suppressive fire. Lieutenant Kauhaihao then directed the withdrawal of his battered point element. Crawling over a hundred meters of fire-swept terrain, he dragged vital equipment to the rear and helped wounded soldiers to a position of safety. While rejoining his men to the company’s main force, Lieutenant Kauhaihao sighted an enemy squad moving up on his tattered platoon. As he advanced to engage the approaching enemy, Lieutenant Kauhaihao was mortally wounded by enemy fire. First Lieutenant Kauhaihao’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.