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 First Class Arco (Ercolino) Anthony Ciancanelli, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 12 September 1944. On the outskirts of Vesoul, France, Private Ciancanelli was scouting ahead of his platoon when a German rifleman hiding behind a bush fired at him and missed. Private Ciancanelli rushed the position and killed the enemy soldier before he could fire again. When he spotted two more Germans in a nearby foxhole, Private Ciancanelli raised his rifle to fire. When it jammed, he stormed the German foxhole and killed one man with his rifle butt while the other ran off into a nearby house. Private Ciancanelli grabbed the dead German’s rifle and one of his grenades and gave chase. He threw the grenade inside the house, waited for it to explode, and then stormed inside only to discover twenty dazed Germans, four of which had been wounded by the grenade blast. All twenty of the enemy surrendered to Private Ciancanelli. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.