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 First Class Lawrence D. Henry (ASN: 37509165), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Troop B, 3d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), 3d Cavalry Group (Separate), in action against enemy forces at Riol, Germany, on 16 March 1945. On that date, Private First Class Henry’s platoon came under artillery and small-arms fire which struck with devastating effect. All five tanks were wrecked, many men were killed and wounded, and the remainder were left under continued enemy fire. To cover the withdrawal of his comrades, Private First Class Henry mounted alone to the deck of a wrecked tank and manned the machine gun alone until killed at his post. His heroic sacrifice, an act of supreme gallantry and in keeping with the highest military traditions, enabled many of his comrades to withdraw.