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 George William Heckard, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 13th Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces during the period 15 August to 21 August 1944. Injured in a parachute jump near Fayence, France, and separated from his unit, Sergeant Heckard assisted in the establishment of a small hospital for other members of his battalion. On 17 August, disregarding his injury, he joined a patrol consisting of an OSS officer and several French partisans. While thus engaged he observed a column of Germans en route to the La Roche garrison near Fayence. Moving off the road, he with-held fire until the column reached a point 30 yards from his position, and then opened fire with a British Sten gun, killing approximately twenty of the group. Later that evening, Sergeant Heckard volunteered to accompany the American officer on the dangerous mission of negotiating the surrender of the German garrison. This was effected on 19 September while the village was under heavy artillery fire, and resulted in the capitulation of 174 prisoners, 15 machine guns, two 20-millimeter guns and 175 rifles. Later that day, while attempting to rejoin his unit with two of his companions, they were fired upon by an enemy machine gun concealed in a house by the side of the road. Disregarding the bullets hitting the ground all around him, Sergeant Heckard charged across an open field and threw a hand grenade into the house through a window, killing three Germans and resulting in the capture of fourteen others. Technical Sergeant Heckard’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.