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 Technician Fifth Grade Howard Daniel McKissick (ASN: 39204430), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 5th Ranger Battalion, Provisional Ranger Group (Separate) in action against enemy forces at Normandy, France, on 7 June 1944. Technician Fifth Grade McKissick volunteered with another man to make contact with a battalion of Rangers that had been cut off. At midnight, Technician Fifth Grade McKissick moved off and started through the enemy lines. After several hours of crawling through enemy minefields, enemy outposts and enemy installations, he finally reached the isolated battalion. He and his comrade then returned to their own unit and started out again with a reel of wire to a position where they believed their mortars would be set up. He and his companion returned through the enemy lines unreeling the wire so that accurate fire could be placed on the enemy positions once the mortars were set up. Technician Fifth Grade McKissick’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.