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 Walter Lee Elrod (ASN: 34437888), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 423d Infantry Regiment, in action against the enemy on 2 April 1945, in Germany. When his company had been pinned down by enemy machine gun and rifle fire Sergeant Elrod moved alone, in the face of murderous fire, to a point within grenade range of an enemy machine gun. Hurling a grenade he killed the crew, and continued alone toward a second machine gun, killing an enemy sniper in his advance. With two well-placed grenades he knocked out the second position and withdrew to his own lines only after friendly mortar fire was brought to bear on the remainder of the enemy positions. Staff Sergeant Elrod’s courage and gallantry reflected the highest traditions of the military service.