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 Leonard P. Elder (ASN: 34312078), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman with the Medical Detachment, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 17 June 1944, in France. As the platoon to which Private First Class Elder was assigned as Aid Man was moving through the streets of a town, it was suddenly brought under direct enemy tank and machine-gun fire. A shell burst which wounded two men of his platoon and also wounded him in the legs. After Private Elder had managed to gain the relative safety of a nearby building, the enemy machine-gunner began to fire on the two wounded men. Private Elder, observing this, immediately crawled into the exposed street and dragged the two wounded men to cover. While going through the exceptionally heavy fire to get the last man, Private Elder was wounded again but contrived to rescue his comrade. He dressed the wounds of the other men before taking care of himself, although more seriously wounded than either of them. Further, he insisted that they be evacuated first from the scant cover still under enemy fire. Private First Class Elder’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 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.