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) Walter J. Burns (ASN: 0-1288356), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 204th Military Police Company, during Operation TORCH in North Africa. In the early morning of 9 November 1942, at French Morocco, Second Lieutenant Burns, while en route ashore with a landing party, voluntarily exposed himself to heavy fire from an enemy warship at a distance of only twenty yards in order to take the helm of the boat after the coxswain had been wounded. Second Lieutenant Burns calmly guided the boat toward shore under the instructions of the wounded coxswain, and in so doing received a severe thigh wound from enemy shell fire. Even after being wounded and thrown from the controls, he again returned to take the wheel. When it became evident that the boat could not reach shore, Second Lieutenant Burns retained control of the situation, and with coolness that was a great inspiration to the men he commanded, he gave the order to abandon ship. An instant later the boat was shot out of the water by enemy shell fire. Second Lieutenant Burns’ 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.