The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Daniel Preston McLaurin (ASN: 0-552663), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces on while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action 11 January 1945 near Ingolsheim, France. After completing his mission, Lieutenant McLaurin was leading his combat patrol back to our lines when an artillery concentration blocked the route and the patrol was caught in the crossfire of two machine guns and intense enemy small arms fire. After a man was killed while silencing one of the guns, Lieutenant McLaurin stood up in full view of the enemy and charged the other gun. Although mortally wounded he succeeded in throwing two grenades which silenced the gun and killed or wounded its crew. His heroic sacrifice permitted the remainder of his patrol to withdraw without further casualty.