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 Second Lieutenant (Military Police Corps) Thomas F. Berteau (ASN: 0-1170285), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 101st Military Police Battalion, in action against enemy forces in Italy, on 9 September 1943. On that date, while engaged in a landing operation at Salerno Bay, Italy, Second Lieutenant Berteau, with utter disregard for his personal safety, and while under intense enemy machine gun fire, rescued three wounded soldiers aboard a disabled landing craft, which was afire as a result of a direct hit from enemy artillery. While machine gun fire sprayed all about him, he succeeded in bringing one of the wounded men ashore, and he then returned to the disabled craft for the other man, although machine gun bullets continued to ricochet off the sinking craft. Just as he reached the boat, another artillery shell hit the craft, but he continued to render assistance until he had successfully rescued the wounded soldiers. His bravery and intrepidity in the face of heavy enemy fire are deserving of high praise, and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.