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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Donald Carl Zimmer, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 27 January 1945 and on 11 February 1945. On 27 January 1945, when the Japanese withdrew from the town of Duquit in the face of an assault by American forces, they left a delaying force of twenty-two Japanese soldiers to carry out demolition work and harass the advancing American forces until the main Japanese force could prepare new defenses. The enemy rear guard occupied a pillbox heavily fortified with logs and concrete blocks and was so well camouflaged that many Americans were wounded before it was located. Enemy fire from a heavy machine gun and many rifle men caused American casualties to mount however every infantry weapon failed to knock out the enemy pillbox. Realizing the importance of destroying the position, Lieutenant Zimmer camouflaged himself with branches and twigs and crawled within 20 yards of the emplacement and began to throw grenades into the long, narrow apertured through which the enemy was firing. Each time he raised himself to throw a grenade, he drew the full fire of the enemy, but he continued, throwing approximately 50 grenades before he was able to throw one through the narrow aperture. The grenade landed on a pile of demolitions inside the emplacement, and the ensuing explosion demolished the entire pillbox, enabling his unit to move on to destroy other Japanese positions under Lieutenant Zimmer’s leadership. On 11 February 1945, his platoon encountered twenty-five enemy armed with rifles and a heavy machinegun, barricaded in the Pace Market. Placing machine guns to cover probably enemy routes of withdrawal, Lieutenant Zimmer led a squad in a frontal attack. Fully exposed to enemy fire, he ran up to the emplacement and threw grenades into the position. A total of 24 enemy were killed as the enemy was driven out of the Market. Lieutenant Zimmer organized a defense for the night and held the building against an enemy counterattack, during which two more enemy were killed. The following day he was seriously wounded while attempting to locate another enemy machine gun position in Manila. First Lieutenant Zimmer’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, the 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.