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 Virgil Jesse Gooch (ASN: 35247218), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 4 April 1945, in the vicinity of Heilbronn, Germany. Assigned the mission of crossing the Neckar River and securing the right bank, Private First Class Gooch, a member of a machine gun platoon supporting a rifle company, reached a railroad where he rapidly set up his machine gun on a bridge offering excellent fields of fire. At 0900 hours the enemy, under cover of intense artillery and mortar fire and supported by tanks, assaulted friendly positions and succeeded in cutting off forward elements. A limited withdrawal was ordered and Private First Class Gooch volunteered to cover the movement. Intrepidly maintaining his exposed position, he diverted the enemy attack by his accurate fire, killing fifteen of the enemy and wounding an un-estimated number before he was killed. Private First Class Gooch’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 100th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.