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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Ralph Alexander Hardee (ASN: 0-439504), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 9 August 1944. First Lieutenant Hardee displayed outstanding courage and complete disregard for his personal safety in leading his platoon on a strong and well organized enemy position when the artillery support failed to come at the time for which the attack was scheduled. Despite the fact that he had received a wound earlier in the day, he was the first one to advance toward the enemy strongpoint. The enemy was situated high on a hill looking down on First Lieutenant Hardee’s platoon. Armed with a machine gun, he immediately shot four of the enemy. His machine gunner and assistant gunner were killed almost on the spot and his platoon had no more supporting machine gun fire. As he reached a grain field, an enemy bullet knocked the helmet off his head, but still he kept advancing. When they reached the end of the grain field, a hundred yards of open field lay between them and the enemy wall. The enemy’s fire was now terrific and there was no protection for him or his men. First Lieutenant Hardee then turned to his men and gave the order to rush the wall. He and his men then started for the wall spraying it with submachine gun and rifle fire. At this point another one of his men was killed instantly, and when about forty yards from the wall, Lieutenant Hardee was hit by a burst of machine gun fire. As he was falling to his knees he tried desperately to reload his gun to fire again at the enemy, but died on the spot. Later that day, the third platoon took the position. First Lieutenant Hardee, in the performance of his mission, displayed outstanding leadership, courage, and devotion to duty, and succeeded in pinning down the enemy until the arrival of reinforcements. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.