The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Dencil Clinton Herdman (ASN: 35751840), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 18 October 1944, in the vicinity of Frassinette, Italy. Private First Class Herdman, acting squad leader, undertook the mission of securing the flank of his company’s position on a newly won hill. After his men had prepared defensive positions, the enemy delivered a heavy artillery barrage on the area, forcing Private First Class Herdman to move his squad to a nearby house. Taking up a position outside the building, Private First Class Herdman opened fire at a force of eight Germans led by an officer. As the enemy closed in, Private First Class Herdman dropped his rifle and hurled two grenades to kill the officer, wound two men, and force the others to abandon the attack in flight. Still holding his exposed position, Private First Class Herdman was subjected to machine gun fire from an adjacent hill, and bullets ripped into the corner of the building near him. A self-propelled gun opened fire on the house, and a direct hit wounded Private First Class Herdman. Clinging to his position, he poured deliberate and deadly fire at the Germans as they launched two more assaults. Each time he repulsed the attackers, killing or wounding five more Germans. After the last assault was stopped, Private first Class Herdman was mortally wounded by hostile machine gun fire to which he had been constantly exposed. By his heroism in battle he repulsed, single-handedly, repeated assaults on his position and kept the flank of his company secure. The deeds of Private First Class Herdman exemplify the heroic traditions of the American Infantry Soldier.