James Emory Mace
Brigadier General, U.S. Army

James Emory Mace graduated from The Citadel with the Class of 1963 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army.

In December 1968, then-Captain James Emory Mace was serving with Company A, 2nd Battalion (Airmobile), 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in South Vietnam.

On 2-4 December, CPT Mace, Company Commander of Company A, was on a search and clear mission near Dong Xoai. When his point element came under heavy fire, CPT Mace moved forward and directed his men in a flanking movement that forced the enemy to retreat from their bunkers. He then led his unit through the hostile emplacements to link with a sister company in a night defensive position. Under intense enemy fire, he organized a rescue party and led it from the night location to rescue the crew of an ammunition resupply helicopter shot down by the communists. The next day, he led his unit in an attack against another bunker complex. After exposing himself to the enemy fire in order to carry a wounded man to safety, CPT Mace stood up to spot the enemy gunners, then personally killed 2 and wounded 3 of them. Seeing that the enemy was trying to encircle his company, he ordered a withdrawal and remained behind to direct rocket artillery to within 100 meters of his position. While returning to the same site from another direction on 4 December, the unit was hit by command-detonated mines and heavy machine gun fire, which caused several casualties. CPT Mace led his men on an assault of the enemy fortifications, killing 1 communist and rescuing 2 wounded comrades from under the hostile fusillade. As a result of this action, a major enemy supply complex was destroyed. CPT Mace's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Following his retirement from the Army, Brigadier General Mace was appointed as Commandant of The Citadel in 1997. The first class of women was admitted at The Citadel in 1996 and Mace had the opportunity to oversee military training during a dramatic period of transition from an all-male to a coeducational Corps of Cadets. In 1999, his daughter, Nancy Mace, became The Citadel's first female graduate from the Corps; she graduated after 3 years.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star
Multinational Force and Observers Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Ranger Tab

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 pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) James E. Mace (ASN: 0-98342), 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 A, 2d Battalion (Airmobile), 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Captain Mace distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 2 to 4 December 1968 while commanding his company on a search and clear mission near Dong Xoai. When his point element came under heavy fire, Captain Mace moved forward and directed his men in a flanking movement which forced the enemy to retreat from their bunkers. He then led his unit through the hostile emplacements to link with a sister company in a night defensive position. Braving intense enemy fire, he organized a rescue party and led it from the night location to rescue the crew of an ammunition resupply helicopter shot down by the communists. On the next day, he led his unit in an attack against another bunker complex. After exposing himself to the vicious enemy fire to carry a wounded man to safety, Captain Mace stood up to spot the enemy gunners, personally killing two and wounding three of them. Finding that the foe was attempting to encircle his company, he ordered a withdrawal and remained behind to direct rocket artillery to within one hundred meters of his position. While returning to the same site from another direction the following day, the unit was hit by command detonated mines and heavy machine gun fire which caused several casualties. Captain Mace led his men on an assault of the enemy fortifications, killing one communist and rescuing two wounded comrades from under the hostile fusillade. As a result of this action, a major enemy supply complex was destroyed. Captain Mace'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.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 838 (March 9, 1969)

Honors

● The Citadel established The Brigadier General James E. Mace Leadership Award that is presented to a first class cadet being commissioned in the military who demonstrates outstanding leadership in the day-to-day running of the Corps of Cadets.
● In 2007, Mace was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA.