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 Robert O. Lawton (ASN: 34657904), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Paderborn, Germany, on 1 April 1945. Technical Sergeant Lawton went forward through a hail of fire in an effort to silence the weapons of enemy foxholes. Several yards from a hostile position, he threw grenades and fired his machine pistol, killing ten of the enemy and capturing twenty-five. Seeing intense fire coming from a stone quarry, he advanced, hurled the remainder of his grenades and fired his machine pistol, killing an additional fifteen and capturing thirty enemy soldiers. Technical Sergeant Lawton’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 104th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.