Danny J Petersen
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor

To: *PETERSEN, DANNY J.

Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry, 25th Infantry
Division. Place and Date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 9 January 1970. Entered service at: Kansas City,
Mo. Born: 11 March 1949, Horton, Kans.
Citation:

Sp4c. Petersen distinguished himself while serving as an armored personnel carrier commander with Company B
during a combat operation against a North Vietnamese Army Force estimated to be of battalion size. During the initial
contact with the enemy, an armored personnel carrier was disabled and the crewmen were pinned down by the heavy
onslaught of enemy small arms, automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Sp4c. Petersen immediately
maneuvered his armored personnel carrier to a position between the disabled vehicle and the enemy. He placed
suppressive fire on the enemy's well-fortified position, thereby enabling the crewmembers of the disabled personnel
carrier to repair their vehicle. He then maneuvered his vehicle, while still under heavy hostile fire to within 10 feet of
the enemy's defensive emplacement. After a period of intense fighting, his vehicle received a direct hit and the driver
was wounded. With extraordinary courage and selfless disregard for his own safety, Sp4c. Petersen carried his
wounded comrade 45 meters across the bullet-swept field to a secure area. He then voluntarily returned to his
disabled armored personnel carrier to provide covering fire for both the other vehicles and the dismounted personnel
of his platoon as they withdrew. Despite heavy fire from 3 sides, he remained with his disabled vehicle, alone and
completely exposed. Sp4c. Petersen was standing on top of his vehicle, firing his weapon, when he was mortally
wounded. His heroic and selfless actions prevented further loss of life in his platoon. Sp4c. Petersen's conspicuous
gallantry and extraordinary heroism are in the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit on him, his unit,
and the U.S. Army.