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 Colonel Paul Francois Pardes, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces in France, on and about 15 March 1945 in France and Germany. As Chief of Staff of the illustrious 3d Algerian Infantry Division, French Army, Colonel Pardes played not only a distinguished planning role, but participated with complete disregard for his personal safety in some of the most bitter and significant fighting of the campaign. When the division reached the Lauter River in France, he crossed with advance echelons under violent enemy artillery, mortar, and automatic weapons fire. Later, under even more hazardous circumstances, he traversed the Rhine in the leading tank of his division. Colonel Pardes’ exploits added new luster to the already glorious record of the 3d Algerian Infantry Division.