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 Private Earl Oliver (ASN: 34885176), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 12 November 1944. On that date, Private Oliver was serving as a machine-gunner with a platoon near Kerling, France. Before dawn, a strong force of enemy tanks and infantry attacked his position, and aided by poor visibility and hilly terrain succeeded in knocking out all machine-guns except Private Oliver’s. Ignoring the intense fire directed against him this brave soldier held his position, directing effective fire by the sound of the advance and the light of bursting mortar shells, even when the enemy had approached within grenade-throwing distance. He was killed by a direct mortar hit on his position, and the following morning twenty-two enemy dead were found in front of his gun; some as close as fifteen feet. Private Oliver’s heroic determination and supreme, courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 90th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.