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 First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Robert E. Henshaw, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 237th Engineer Combat Battalion, attached to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 8 June 1944. Lieutenant Henshaw and his platoon had completed their mission of clearing enemy snipers from a town in France when intense small arms and machine gun fire suddenly opened and forced them to take cover. With complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Henshaw moved forward alone to reconnoiter the ground and to establish the location and strength of the enemy. Meanwhile, two friendly tanks dispatched to clear the enemy strongpoint were knocked out by direct artillery hits. Realizing that the only method of eliminating the position would be with his own troops, he proceeded with two men to continue his reconnaissance. They had gone but several yards when well-aimed enemy small arms fire wounded the two men. Determined to locate the position, Lieutenant Henshaw continued the reconnaissance alone and succeeded in ascertaining both the location and strength of the enemy. He returned to his platoon and led them forward. Deploying his men, he deliberately and fearlessly exposed himself; then crawled forward toward the enemy in order to draw fire from his own men moving into position. The two machine guns were knocked out of action and the crew of the light artillery pieces some distance away resorted to small arms fire for personal protection. Lieutenant Henshaw and his men overwhelmed the crew and it surrendered. As a result of this action, two 75-mm. guns were captured, three light machine guns were eliminated, six enemy were killed, 18 were taken prisoners and five American soldiers, members of an airborne division, held as prisoners, were released. First Lieutenant Henshaw’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 and the United States Army.