(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 Technical Sergeant Steve Hugh Kovacik (ASN: 33248652), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as Flight Engineer and Gunner of a B-17 Heavy Bomber of the 568th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 6 March 1944, against enemy ground targets near Berlin, Germany. After entering enemy territory, Technical Sergeant Kovacik’s aircraft was attacked by three German fighters and, in the air battle that followed, he destroyed one Me-109 enemy fighter. He was wounded in the right leg by a 20-mm. shell that also started a fire in the cockpit and forced him to leave his guns. Ignoring his wounded leg, Technical Sergeant Kovacik extinguished the fire. Ammunition for the .50 caliber machine guns on the floor of the aircraft was exploding and Technical Sergeant Kovacik had to tear the links apart to stop the explosions. He then returned to his gun position to continue to fight and, during the long battle, he destroyed a second Me-109 German fighter plane. Later Technical Sergeant Kovacik crawled into the bomb bay to help the Bombardier kick out 3 bombs that had been jammed on the rack by a flak burst. Technical Sergeant Kovacik’s shooting skill, dedication to duty, courageous devotion to duty on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.