The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Technical Sergeant Harold V. Sterling (ASN: 35203059), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 7 August 1944. While on patrol checking outpost defenses of his regimental headquarters, Technical Sergeant Sterling was suddenly confronted by approximately 50 infiltrating Germans who had broken through front lines. Quick to sense the disaster if they enemy reached the command post nearby, he courageously engaged the group single-handed, deliberately exposing himself on numerous occasions to permit four comrades to maneuver into positions safely. As the enemy reached a hedgerow less than 10 yards from him, Technical Sergeant Sterling heroically hurled hand grenades over the hedgerows and fired his rifle from several different places to deceive the Germans as to the strength of his force. When his comrades took up the firefight, Technical Sergeant Sterling joined them in holding off the numerically superior enemy for a period of one hour until reinforcements arrived and forced the hostile group to retreat. Technical Sergeant Sterling’s aggressive and bold actions exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 30th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.