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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Vernon W. Pickett (ASN: 0-1290807), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Azelot, between the Moselle and Meurthe Rivers in eastern France, on 15 July 1944. First Lieutenant Pickett, Communications Officer, ** Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, led a wire team forward to establish communications with a battalion observation post. His team was subjected to crossfire from two enemy machine guns and pinned to the ground. First Lieutenant Pickett approached the enemy positions, but the enemy fire was so intense that it was necessary for him to remain under cover until daybreak, at which time he crawled to each of the enemy machine guns and destroyed them with hand grenades. En route to his own line, he was caught in alternate friendly and enemy artillery barrages, rendered unconscious by concussion, and captured by the Germans. While en route to a prisoner of war camp, he escaped by cutting his way out of a box car, and with the aid of French civilians made his way back to enemy lines. The intrepid actions of this officer, his resourcefulness, tenacity of purpose, and utter disregard for personal safety are in accord with the highest traditions of the Military Service.