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 Clarence Lee Conrad (ASN: 38075868), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Kaltenhaus, France, on 25 January 1945. Staff Sergeant Conrad, as squad leader of a 60-mm. mortar squad, operated an 81-mm. mortar without assistance when his company was attacked by a superior enemy force. During a period of three hours, he fired this mortar and managed to keep is supplied with ammunition in spite of extremely heavy enemy fire in his sector, often running back through heavy fire to secure necessary ammunition. When the enemy infiltrated and surrounded the company position, Sergeant Conrad then assumed a firing position and joined in the battle as a rifleman, exposing himself frequently to enemy fire in order to obtain a more effective field of fire. Finally, when the situation seemed hopeless, Sergeant Conrad, with complete disregard for his own safety, he stood up in an exposed position in an effort to talk the enemy into surrendering. Coolly ignoring the fire directed at him, he outlined a plan of surrender and after several minutes Sergeant Conrad succeeded in convincing forty-five of the enemy to surrender. Staff Sergeant Conrad’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.