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 Private First Class Philip Edward Nickerson (ASN: 31283804), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Campo Morto, Italy, on 29 February 1944. When his company was stopped by enemy machine gun fire from an outpost 100 yards to their front during a counterattack, Private First Class Nickerson ordered his light machine gun squad to withdraw. When a second enemy gun opened fire, he again directed his gun crew’s fire against it. Disregarding enemy machinegun bullets striking within a foot of him, as well as mortar fire that was covering the area, he twice crawled 35 yards to secure additional ammunition for his gun. When the second enemy gun had been silenced, he directed fire on enemy troops 30 yards away but his gun jammed. Ordering his squad to place rifle fire on the enemy, he calmly disassembled the weapon and cleaned it. Before he could place it back in operation, however, an enemy mortar shell fragment struck the tripod and destroyed it. Private First Class Nickerson then picked up the weapon and fired it from the hip, personally destroying ten enemy soldiers, wounding four, and forcing four more to surrender. Private First Class Nickerson’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 3d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.