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 Staff Sergeant Elmer John Cessna, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Leghorn, Italy, on 17 July 1944. During the attack on Leghorn, the enemy presented a great obstacle in prepared positions on Hill 421, which was steep, rocky, and covered with brush. Sergeant Cessna commanded the rifle squad which pointed the attack on the hill and which drew a terrific concentration of enemy machine gun and rifle fire. The enemy positions were almost impossible to detect because of the dense undergrowth. While leading the attack, Sergeant Cessna was show in the arm, four other men were killed and 15 others were wounded. Continuing the advance, Sergeant Cessna wounded four Germans before the company was pinned down and forced to change positions because of concentrated mortar and artillery fire. Suffering intense pain, Sergeant Cessna maneuvered his squad into a flanking position and led his men up the hill in the face of intense mortar, artillery, and machine gun fire. At the top of the hill the men were again pinned down by machine gun fire, but Sergeant Cessna slipped through the rocks, brush, and enemy rifle fire, knocking out the machine gun with two well-aimed grenades, killing two Germans and wounding two. Staff Sergeant Cessna’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 34th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.