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 Sergeant George E. Burns (ASN: 32780093), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 415th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Germany, on 5 December 1944, in Germany. On the morning of 5 December 1944, the enemy launched a vicious counterattack with tanks and infantry on the company to which Sergeant Burns was assigned. An enemy tank penetrated the company’s position, knocking out the anti-tank defense, delivering direct fire on the company command post, destroying all communications and wounding the company commander. Realizing that his platoon’s bazookas had been destroyed, Sergeant Burns, at great risk to his life and in the face of direct fire from the enemy tank and supporting infantry, ran from house to house until he found a bazooka and ammunition. Unable to find a covered position providing a field of fire, Sergeant Burns fired the bazooka from a point in the open skeet, seeking cover only to load his weapon. He fired a total of 10 rounds at the enemy tank, killing eight of the supporting infantrymen and setting the tank on fire with a well-aimed round through the tank’s ventilator. The tank was forced to withdraw and, at great risk to his life, Sergeant Burns courageously pursued it down the open street, stopped the tank with his last round, and killed the crew with his rifle as they abandoned the burning tank. Sergeant Burns’ courageous actions, far above and beyond the ordinary call of duty, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 104th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.