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 Major (Corps of Engineers) Thomas N. Powell, Jr. (ASN: 0-362694), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, Visayan-Mindanao Force, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), in action against enemy forces on 14 April 1942, in the vicinity of Cebu, Philippine Islands. Major Powell volunteered to return to Camp X, which had been overrun by the enemy and was in rear of enemy lines, to recover four small chests of buried paper money. After successfully recovering the money, he executed demolitions on the Toledo Road at critical points in order to delay and hamper enemy movements of troops and supplies. While making preparations to dynamite a bridge, Major Powell observed a large enemy patrol approaching. Organizing a small Filipino force, he ambushed the patrol, and, anticipating that the sound of firing would bring additional enemy forces to the spot, hurriedly gathered more Filipino troops from hiding places in nearby woods, and prepared another ambush. An enemy battalion came down the road into the ambush, but fell back after losing many men. Major Powell’s energetic initiative and heroic leadership resulted in recovering the much needed paper money, the destruction of bridges along an important highway in enemy hands, and the fighting of a successful action behind enemy lines. Major Powell’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, the Visayan-Mindanao Guerilla Force, and the United States Army.