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 Private Owen McKean Laughlin (ASN: 36959712), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 26 December 1944. On that date, Private Laughlin was serving with a machine-gun section of an infantry rifle company assaulting strongly defended enemy positions south of Bastogne, Belgium. In an effort to silence several emplacements, the machine-gun section moved forward to flank the gun positions, fearlessly braving intense enemy fire. Private Laughlin, upon locating an enemy sniper, rose to an upright position and began firing. He received a painful shoulder wound which prevented his using his rifle, but undeterred, he charged directly into the enemy fire, armed only with hand grenades. His heroic assault killed the sniper and completely demoralized the remaining enemy troops. Private Laughlin’s conspicuous courage and supreme devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 80th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.