Dennis Roger Hunsley
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Dennis Roger Hunsley was born on 18 June 1946, the son of Roger and Arrahwanna Marie Scott Hunsley. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 31 May 1966.

On 8 December 1968, First Lieutenant Dennis Roger Hunsley was serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam. While in a night laager position (a protective circle of vehicles), Company C came under intense enemy fire. When 1LT Hunsley observed an enemy rocket propelled grenade crew preparing to destroy several vehicles, he secured a 90-mm. recoilless rifle and neutralized the hostile insurgents. 1LT Hunsley then aided in the evacuation of the wounded, although the area was under heavy mortar attack. His courageous actions contributed immeasurably to the thwarting of the enemy force and the success of the mission. 1LT Hunsley's courage and aggressiveness earned him the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

On 15 March 1969, 1LT Hunsley was a platoon leader during a night reconnaissance-in-force operation near Cu Chi. He was in charge of his Company C's point element when a large North Vietnamese Army force ambushed it, killing 3 and wounding 15, within minutes. 1LT Hunsley dismounted his armored personnel carrier (APC), which had been hit by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade, and carried 2 casualties to safety. Returning to his APC, he found that the carrier alongside it had received a direct hit and he made a 3rd and 4th trip through the communists' fusillade carrying 2 more wounded men back to the medic. When a North Vietnamese automatic weapons position opened fire from the flank while he was organizing a withdrawal, he led an assault that silenced the emplacement, and then carried another casualty to the medic track. Remaining behind until his men had escaped, 1LT Hunsley climbed into a damaged APC and was driving it from the battle area when he was fatally wounded by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade. 1LT Hunsley's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross 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) Dennis Roger Hunsley (ASN: 0-5347868), 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 C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Hunsley distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 March 1969 as a platoon leader during a night reconnaissance-in-force operation near Cu Chi. He was in charge of his company's point element when a large North Vietnamese Army force ambushed it, killing three and wounding fifteen within minutes. Lieutenant Hunsley dismounted his armored personnel carrier, which had been hit by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade, and carried two casualties to safety. Returning to his vehicle, he found that the carrier along side it had received a direct hit and he made a third and fourth trip through the communists' fusillade carrying two more wounded men back to the medic. When a North Vietnamese automatic weapons position opened fire from the flank while he was organizing a withdrawal, he led an assault that silenced the emplacement, and then carried another casualty to the medic track. Remaining behind until his men had escaped, Lieutenant Hunsley climbed into a damaged armored personnel carrier and was driving it from the battle area when he was fatally wounded by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade. First Lieutenant Hunsley'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.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1553 (May 2, 1969)

Honors

The name Dennis R Hunsley is located on Panel 29W Line 45 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Dennis Roger Hunsley is buried at Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal, Ralls County, MO.

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