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 Captain (Air Corps) Leland Chris Nielsen (ASN: 0-660790), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as an A-26 Pilot of the 671st Bombardment Squadron, 416th Bombardment Group, NINTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces on 23 January 1945, in the European Theater of Operations. Leading a flight of Invaders over a target in Germany, Captain Nielsen’s plane was struck by a burst of flak, which smashed his cockpit window, wounding him severely about the face with splinters of plexi-glass and knocking him unconscious. The plane fell to an altitude of 1,000 feet, where Captain Nielsen recovered and pulled out at a safe level. Despite the pain caused by cuts on his face and neck and a painful laceration on his right thigh, Captain Nielsen blinked small pieces of plexi-glass from his eyes and loosened his bombs upon a column of enemy vehicles near the city of Berk, Germany. A crewman administered first aid to Captain Nielsen, who subsequently landed at a friendly airdrome without further injury to himself or his crew. Captain Nielsen’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.