BG James Emory Mace, USA
Class of 1963
Hometown: Hampton, SC
- Mace served as Commandant of Cadets 1998-2006. One of The Citadel's most decorated combat veterans, he received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal, and Purple Heart during the Vietnam War.
- Mace was awarded the DSC for extraordinary heroism 2-4 Dec 1968, while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion (Airmobile), 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, RVN. His DSC citation reads in relevant part:
"[W]hile commanding his company on a search and clear mission near Dong Xoai…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."
- Mace was the first Commander of the Ranger Training Brigade and author of the first-ever Ranger Field Manual. He was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 2007.