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 (Infantry) Donald Henry Langman (ASN: 0-1998424), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Germany, on 1 December 1944. On that date, during an attack against strongly defended enemy positions in the Hurtgen Forest, Germany, advancing units were halted by intense machine-gun fire. Lieutenant Langman, commanding a platoon of Company M, 8th Infantry, placed his men in position and fearlessly advanced with an assault squad against the enemy gun. When fire from another gun forced the squad to seek cover the Lieutenant continued on alone, firing a sub-machinegun. With complete disregard for his own safety he ran fifty yards through a hail of fire and assaulted the gun nest single-handed, killed five of the crew and forced the remaining three to surrender. Lieutenant Langman was wounded but refused evacuation, and as the action continued he suffered another wound from which he died later. Second Lieutenant Langman’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.



