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 Robert Lee Ifland (ASN: 36695797), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 16th Tank Battalion, 16th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces in Czechoslovakia, on 6 May 1945. On that date, near Kozolupy, Czechoslovakia, Private Ifland, armed only with a rifle, fearlessly advanced alone against an enemy pill box which dominated the route of his unit’s advance. Halfway to his objective he was mortally wounded by direct, intense machine gun fire but gallantly and relentlessly continued to the crest of the embankment, forced the enemy to withdraw and skillfully directed an encircling movement by other members of his patrol which resulted in the capture of fifty enemy soldiers and eight vehicles. Private Ifland’s dauntless heroism and unflinching, selfless devotion to duty reflect the highest traditions of the military service.