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 Major (Infantry), [then Captain] Floyd M. Paxton (ASN: 0-350572), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while Commanding Company B, 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion, attached to the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces at Renuamont, Belgium, on 3 and 4 January 1945. On that date, Major Paxton directed an attack against the enemy-held town and, in the hard and bitter fighting, killed three enemy snipers. Before he could reorganize his forces in the town, the enemy launched a counterattack with a platoon of tanks and a battalion of infantry. Without anti-tank weapons, Major Paxton directed artillery fire on the foe by radio and, under the continuous enemy fire, moved from group to group, encouraging the men to fight on as they turned back successive enemy attacks. Wounded by a shell fragment, he refused to be evacuated and when the enemy greatly outnumbered his forces, he spurned demands to surrender, but directed his men in a reply of concentrated artillery and small-arms fire. Finally, with less than 100 effective men on the line, after long facing the enemy’s heavy assaults, his unit was without hope of aid or possibility of breaking through the encirclement. Through the courageous example and determined leadership of Major Paxton, his forces inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and enabled other units to withdraw and consolidate for a later attack. Major Paxton’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.