The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Kenneth Lee Howard (ASN: 34839509), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 383d Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 16 May 1945. During a battalion attack against an enemy strongpoint in the Naha-Shuri defense line, Company C, 383d Infantry Regiment, was subjected to intense cross-fire and suffered heavy casualties. When his squad leader was wounded, Private Howard, a rifleman, unhesitatingly assumed command of the squad, which then consisted of only seven men, and directed the group in repulsing a furious Japanese counterattack of overwhelming strength. Sighting a wounded man in an exposed forward position during the assault, he fearlessly moved through devastating enemy fire to the man, expended his ammunition into the charging foe, and then withdrew his comrade to safety. Although wounded in this gallant act, he again exposed himself, three times moving to a forward position and, despite additional wounds received in each movement, returning to safety with an injured fellow soldier. Weak and exhausted from loss of blood and his strenuous actions, he summoned all his remaining strength and crawled forward to an exposed position. Repeatedly firing into the onrushing Japanese, he killed 14 enemy before he died. By his indomitable fighting spirit, great bravery and aggressive determination to destroy the enemy at every opportunity, Private Howard, at the cost of his life, rescued four wounded comrades and, by his gallant actions, set an inspiring example of heroism which will long be remembered by those with whom he served. His personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 96th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.