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 Staff Sergeant Leonard Edwin Dowden (ASN: 38315204), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 368th Infantry Regiment, 93d Infantry Division in action against enemy forces at Jolo, Philippine Islands, on 17 July 1945. A patrol from the 368th Infantry Regiment was ambushed by a Japanese force of approximately 100 Japanese – almost three times the size of the American unit. When fighting broke out, Staff Sergeant Dowden moved his squad to within 30 yards of the Japanese. He then crawled forward alone to assault a machine gun position. While advancing, Staff Sergeant Dowden was hit in the chest but heroically continued ahead, ordering his fellow soldiers, who had started out to help him, to remain under cover. Ten yards from the machine gun and still exposed to enemy fire, and despite his wounds, Staff Sergeant Dowden raised himself to throw a hand grenade. Be fore he could release it, he was hit in the neck by enemy fire, and killed, but his patrol was able to fight off the enemy attack with only 18 casualties. Staff Sergeant Dowden’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 and the United States Army.