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 Sergeant Manuel Sillas Gonzales, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Italy, on 9 September 1943. Soon after landing at Salerno, Sergeant Gonzales located the position of a German 88-mm. gun which was placing effective fire on U.S. landing craft struggling for shore. He moved toward the gun but was spotted by the Germans who fired at him with a machine gun. Tracers from the German gun set his pack afire on his back, but Sergeant Gonzales continued to advance. When he had gotten close enough, he threw hand grenades at the German gun and crew, and the Germans threw their own grenades at Sergeant Gonzales. Although wounded, he continued the attack until he had killed the entire crew and blown up their ammunition. Sergeant Gonzales’ 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 36th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.