(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Thomas D. Sollom (ASN: 0-425865), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 757th Tank Battalion (Separate), FIFTH Army, in action against enemy forces between San Andrea and San Giorgio, Italy, on 13 and 14 May 1944. First Lieutenant Sollom’s tank company was operating with a French motorized infantry division, and the units were ordered to take Mount Morroni, north and east of San Andrea. He was leading his company column when his tank hit a mine and was disabled, and First Lieutenant Sollom left his own tank and joined another, leading the company around the mine field. After advancing two miles up the road, this tank was hit and disabled by a projectile from German anti-tank guns on Mount Morroni. First Lieutenant Sollom and the crew abandoned the tank and, ignoring the enemy machine gun and mortar fire that was falling all around him, he went back and instructed the second and third platoon on the plan to outflank the anti-tank gun positions. He then returned to the disabled tank with two enlisted men and fired on the German anti-tank position. This fire, together with the outflanking movement of the company neutralized the German positions and Mount Morroni was taken. The following morning Second Lieutenant Sollom led his company through San Apollimere on the road to San Giorgio. A French light tank reconnaissance unit warned him that there were enemy anti-tank guns covering the road ahead, but he did not hesitate. He deployed the company and then took his own tank forward to draw fire from the German guns so the company could neutralize the position. His tank was hit repeated, and he was seriously wounded, with the lower parts of his legs cut off. Unaided, he crawled from the tank where he was find lying on the ground, calling for his officers. Although mortar fire was falling all around, First Lieutenant Sollom before turning command over to another officer, calmly and in exact detail, explained how the company was to be reorganized and detailed the plan of attack. The efforts of Second Lieutenant Sollom enabled the French in their sector, to advance so rapidly while the Americans engaged the German anti-tank positions, that the enemy was forced to take their reserves from the Cassino sector, thus relieving the enemy resistance at Cassino. First Lieutenant Sollom’s extraordinary heroism, 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 and the United States Army.