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 (Infantry) Leland B. Fair (ASN: 0-558789), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 4 July 1945, near Tuli, Mindanao, Philippine Islands. On this day as an Infantry company was attacking along a road leading from Kibangay to Tuli, the leading squad came under intense enemy machine gun fire from pill boxes and from a light machine gun mounted in a tree to the front. Mortar fire also fell on the platoon, and four men were killed instantly and six others were wounded by the initial fire. The fire was so intense that it was impossible to give medical attention to the wounded men who lay on the road in the path of the enemy fire. Second Lieutenant Fair volunteered to take a squad through the jungle to outflank the suspected locations of the enemy from the left. The squad approached the enemy positions from their right rear, and as they came near the first pillbox they received heavy machine gun, rifle, and grenade fire. Second Lieutenant Fair attacked the pillbox, approaching it from the blind side. With complete disregard for his own safety, he stood in full view of the enemy, fired his rifle and threw grenades into the embrasure, killing the enemy occupants. The men of the squad were inspired by this heroic action and followed Second Lieutenant Fair in advancing on the next pillbox. Four of the enemy pillboxes now brought fire to bear on the squad with machine guns, rifles, and grenades. Second Lieutenant Fair directed the fire of the lead scout and the automatic rifleman on the central pillbox, then left his position and rushed forward under their covering fire to the pillbox. He threw two grenades into the emplacement and disposed of its crew. After disabling the enemy gun in the emplacement, Second Lieutenant Fair moved toward the third pillbox. As he approached his right hand was injured by fragments of a Jap grenade. Disregarding his wounds, he ordered his men to cover him, and advanced on a fourth pillbox, exposing himself to enemy fire during his rush. He pitched a grenade into the emplacement and called back for the rocket launcher. When the bazooka man arrived, Second Lieutenant Fair directed protective rifle fire on the pillbox, meanwhile loading the bazooka himself. The first rocket blew a small hole in the top of the pillbox and Second Lieutenant Fair tossed grenades into the emplacement through the hole of the roof. He then attacked the remaining pillboxes and destroyed another light machine gun in one of them. Eight pillboxes were destroyed and 22 Japs were killed. Before his squad could leave the area, however, Japanese mortar fire was brought to bear, and two members of the patrol were wounded. A litter was improvised and the wounded were removed. After he had returned to the company and reported the action, it was determined that possibly one forward pillbox might have been missed. Second Lieutenant Fair, although fatigued from the first assault and bleeding from the wound in his right hand, volunteered to return to the enemy area. He took command of a squad from another company to make his second assault, and he moved out in front of the first scout until he arrived at the fortified area. He deployed the squad on the edge of the pillbox area and led them through the abaca. Several additional pillboxes were spotted. Second Lieutenant Fair placed his men in a position to concentrate their fire on the pillboxes, when enemy mortar fire began to fall ahead of the squad. Despite the risk involved, Second Lieutenant Fair moved boldly and aggressively to the pillboxes, and determined that the enemy had withdrawn. After satisfying himself that there were no more in the vicinity, he evacuated the casualties from the first assault. Only then did he agree to submit to medical treatment. By his brilliant and aggressive leadership, and the resolute courage he exhibited in these actions, Second Lieutenant Fair inspired his men to extraordinary efforts and achievements. His matchless feats of valor won for him the respect and admiration of all, and are consistent with the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 24th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.