(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 First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Edward McCrackin, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 504th Engineer Combat Regiment (Separate), FIFTH U.S. Army, in action against enemy forces in the vicinity of Medhia Plage, French Morocco, on 8 November 1942. During the landings while speeding toward the shore in heavy surf, the landing craft filled with soldiers struck a sandbar just as it was being attacked by enemy aircraft. As the coxswain dropped the ramp, the landing boat became partially filled with water as the men struggled towards the shore, some of them being driven back by the heavy surf. As a sergeant was near drowning as he struggled in the heavy surf, and First Lieutenant McCrackin rescued him and returned him to the boat and assisted in performing artificial respiration. Although wounded himself, he continued his heroic rescue efforts and resisted any treatment for himself and moved into the water to rescue yet another soldier. He then allowed a wound in the thigh, suffered by the attacking aircraft, and fired on the enemy until his wound had been treated, then went back into the water to rescue yet another floundering soldier, before, exhausted, he was placed in another boat. His coolness and courage under fire were a profound inspiration to the members of his unit and his 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.