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 Mills Thomas Lowe (ASN: 34178842), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 3d Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 22 February 1945. On that date, along the shores of Laguna de Bay, Technical Sergeant Lowe led his 24-man machine gun section into the Japanese lines, 300 yards from their nearest supporting troops. For four hours the isolated band was subjected to repeated frontal assaults by a force of 300 Japanese seeking to break through their position. Four banzai charges were driven off with heavy losses to the enemy. Technical Sergeant Low, at times manning a gun, at other times braved enemy fire to move among his tiny force and direct its fire. When the ammunition ran out, Technical Sergeant Low devised a daring plan to raid the attackers lines for weapons and ammunition, and then led the brilliant foray. Using the captured, his force captured seven machineguns and two mortars and ammunition and, using the captured weapons, drove off a fifth attack. Moving more cautiously, the Japanese succeeded in encircling the small band of Americans, launching simultaneous attacks from the front and rear. Repeatedly exposing himself to this two-way fire, Technical Sergeant Lowe moved back and forth among his men, skillfully directing their fire into the lines of the encroaching enemy. Eight of the enemy who succeeded in creeping into the defense lines he killed in close combat. So deadly was the fire poured forth by the outnumbered patrol that the enemy force broke off the encounter and withdrew. Technical Sergeant Lowe personally accounted for approximately 50 enemy dead, eight of them in hand-to-hand combat. Technical Sergeant Lowe’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.