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 Eugene J. Procaccini (ASN: 32758880), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Carano, Italy, on 29 February 1944. Private First Class Procaccini, with one assistant, manned an outpost 300 yards in advance of his company and held it in the face of repeated and determined enemy infantry attacks supported by mortar and artillery fire. He refused to fall back, even when told that his mission had been accomplished, and for two hours continued to hold off the enemy and inflict heavy casualties. Germans came as close as 20 yards but could not succeed in overrunning or outflanking the outpost because of Private Procaccini’s accurate fire. He and his assistant, in their determination to hold at all costs, prevented two German platoons from advancing. Finally an enemy shell made a direct hit on the outpost, killing both its defenders. The extraordinary heroism of Private Procaccini prevented the full brunt of the German assault from falling on his company and allowed time for our forces to bring artillery to bear, eventually breaking up the enemy attack. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.