Sergeant Patterson, Robert Martin 
  U.S. Army, Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 
  17th Calvary

    Near La Chu, Republic of Vietnam, 6 May, 1968
 
 

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Spc4 Patterson distinguished himself while serving as a fire team leader of the 3rd Platoon, Troop B, during an assault against a North Vietnamese Army Battalion which was entrenched in a heavily fortified position. When the leading squad of the 3rd Platoon was pinned down by heavy interlocking automatic weapon and rocket propelled grenade fire from  two  enemy bunkers, Spc 4 Patterson and the two other members of his assault team moved forward under a hall of enemy fire to destroy the bunkers with grenade and machine-gun fire. Observing that his comrades were being fired on from a third enemy bunker covered by enemy gunners in 1-man spider holes, Spc 4 Patterson , with complete disregard for his safety and ignoring the warnings of his comrades that he was moving into a bunker complex, assaulted and destroyed the position. Although exposed to intensive small arm and grenade fire from the bunkers and their mutually supporting emplacements, Spc 4 Patterson single-handedly destroyed by rifle and grenade fire five enemy bunkers, killed eight enemy soldiers and captured seven weapons. His dauntless courage and heroism  inspired his platoon to resume the attack and to penetrate the enemy defensive position. Spc 4 Patterson's action at the risk of his life has reflected great credit upon the U.S. Army.