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 Second Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Richard Adam Kersting (ASN: 0-1112802), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 246th Engineer Combat Battalion (Separate), in action against enemy forces on 11 July 1944, in France. Second Lieutenant Kersting and the men with him, while proceeding on foot in advance of a tank, encountered about 40 enemy soldiers. A running fight developed with the Germans resisting from hours to house. Second Lieutenant Kersting led his men in an assault in which 10 of the enemy were killed and the remaining Germans took cover in one of the houses. Then, while covered by the fire of the other soldiers and the tank, Second Lieutenant Kersting though exposed to enemy fire, fearlessly made his way to the door of the house, kicked it in and called to the Germans to surrender. Led by their officer the Germans laid down their arms, came out of the house and surrendered. As the last of these soldiers left the building, Second Lieutenant Kersting observed the muzzle of a rifle protruding from another door in the same building. He pinned himself to the wall as a shot was fired at him and then killed the enemy soldier who had fired the shot. The aggressive leadership and personal bravery displayed by Second Lieutenant Kersting exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.