(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 Private Edwin Claude Hicks (ASN: 34084165), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Separate), FIFTH U.S. Army, in action against enemy forces near Carano, Italy, on 15 and 16 March 1944. Company C was given the mission of securing 2 heavily-fortified houses vitally needed for use as a line of departure for a large-scale attack. The buildings were organized into a strongpoint, well wired in, heavily mined, and with mutually supporting machine gun fire. The leading platoons of Company C approached to a point within 200 yards of the objective before contacting the enemy. At this point, the attacking force came under withering fire from 10 German machine guns, along with heavy rifle fire. Although the fire momentarily halted the Company and intense artillery and mortar fire fell on its position, Company C continued to push forward. About 75 yards from the houses, the Company drew still more intense machine gun fire and encountered wire and mine fields. In spite of heavy casualties, this small group of men moved forward across the obstacles and rushed the houses to engage the Germans in close-in fighting with hand grenades. All but 4 machine guns were finally eliminated, but the opposition provided by these weapons and continual rifle and hand grenade assaults, made holding the positions almost untenable. The area around the house was subjected to heavy mortar barrages, and the Germans launched a fierce counter-attack with an estimated strength of 2 platoons. During the action above, PVT Hicks’ personal actions included voluntarily remaining behind during a heavy artillery barrage to protect his squad leader, who was aiding in the installation of a Browning Automatic Rifle position. While the BAR position was being installed, 20 Germans launched a counter-attack from their front line, 130 yards away. The Germans surged directly toward the house over flat, moonlit terrain. Private Hicks fired his M-1 rifle until it jammed and then picked up an enemy rifle that he had earmarked for emergency use, and continued to fire at the Germans who were now close enough to throw hand grenades into the house, after completely surrounding it. The continuous fire of Private Hicks and 2 other men succeeded in disrupting the attack and killing off the Germans, after taking 2 prisoners. When it was decided to withdraw to the rear, Private Hicks was carrying a hand grenade with the pin pulled, which he threw over an embankment. He heard a noise and, upon investigation, he saw a slightly-wounded German trying to crawl away. Under heavy artillery and small arms fire, Private Hicks crawled up and grasped the German by the legs, pulled him into the ditch, and took him prisoner. Private Hicks’ 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.