Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    148th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    37th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 8, 1945

    Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 43 (July 13, 1945)

    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 Glenn Iner Dahlum (ASN: 37554357), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 8 February 1945. During the fighting for the heavily-defended Paco Railroad Station in Manila, an estimated 300 Japanese soldiers, strongly entrenched in an elaborate system of pillboxes and machine gun nests, controlled the Paco Station when the attack by Private First Class Dahlum’s company began. An automatic rifleman, he was in a squad assigned to guard the exposed right flank of the attack. The squad’s position in an open field offered little protection against the sudden barrage of mortar, machine gun and rifle fire thrown up by the enemy. Although wounded by mortar fragments, Private Dahlum spotted one of the enemy guns and dashed for a new position from which he could attack it with his automatic weapon. As he ran, an enemy bullet wounded him again, this time seriously. His squad began a slow withdrawal under the heavy fire to a better defensive position and two of his comrades started forward to help him back. He waved them back and continued firing to cover the squad’s withdrawal. Shortly afterwards the Japanese threw an entire platoon into a charge against the little group in an attempt to smash the American flank. Holding his fire until they were withing 20 yards, Private Dahlum suddenly turned his rifle loose into the charging enemy killing twelve of them and throwing the attack into confusion. This momentary break gave the badly outnumbered American soldiers the time they needed to dig in, and when the enemy reformed and again bore down, they were slashed and halted by the squad’s fire. The enemy attack was not broken until the enemy had overrun Private First Class Dahlum’s position, killing him. When the ground was re-taken later in the day, eight more Japanese were found dead from his fire. Private First Class Dahlum’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.