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 Private First Class Melchor Louie Cotelo (ASN: 39123416), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 29 November 1944. A superior enemy force launched a pre-dawn attack against the perimeter of a platoon of Company C, 34th Infantry Regiment, and moved under fire in great strength toward the forward position occupied by Private Cotelo. He waited until the enemy’s fire slackened and then jumped up and exposed himself in order to return the fire more accurately. When the enemy started throwing grenades into the perimeter, he coolly and deliberately recovered those near him and threw them back into the ranks of attacking Japanese. Then, while going to the aid of a wounded comrade, he caught a grenade thrown at him, but before he could dispose of it, it exploded, severing his right hand at the wrist. In spite of excruciating pain and profuse bleeding, he pulled the pin from one of his own grenades with his teeth and threw it with his left hand, destroying a forward enemy machine gun and annihilating the crew. Daylight disclosed 16 enemy dead in the sector he defended. By h is cool, intrepid deeds, Private Cotelo contributed materially to the repulse of the enemy attack and exemplified the highest traditions of the military service.