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 Staff Sergeant Ernest Lee Barber (ASN: 33407167), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Germany, on 18 April 1945. On that date, during an attack on Leipzig, Germany, Sergeant Barber fearlessly continued on across a bridge when his company was forced back, killed two enemy riflemen in hand-to-hand fighting and although seriously wounded, aggressively plunged forward. Exhibiting a fierce desire to close with the enemy he killed eleven enemy soldiers, captured five and silenced two hostile machine guns and a 20-mm. flak gun position. He reported back to his company with valuable information as to enemy positions and although bleeding profusely from his wound had to be restrained from accompanying them forward. Sergeant Barber’s indomitable fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of the armed forces.