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 Sergeant Vito C. Pumilia, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 385th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Daschwig, Germany, on 10 April 1945. It was noon when the first platoon of Company F neared the town of Daschwig, where the enemy-held a commanding view of the flat and open terrain approaches. The platoon worked its way to within 800 yards of the town when the enemy opened up with machine gun and rifle fire so intense that it pinned down the men. Most of the fire was coming from a machine gun nest that Sergeant Pima, a squad leader, could see from his position. Eight enemy manned the gun and Sergeant Pumilia managed, in short rushes, to get to within ten yards of the machine gun nest and opened fire with his M-1. He got the gunner with his first shot and killed three more enemy in rapid succession. The other four Germans gave up. With the first machine gun nest out of the way the platoon continued its advance with Sergeant Pumilia in the lead. Ahead of him was the enemy, entrenched about twenty-five yards from the town. He worked his way through machine gun, rifle and grenade fire to a point where he eliminated three more Germans and routed the rest. The platoon then broke through and entered the town. During the house-to-house fighting, Sergeant Pumilia killed four more of the enemy, in all, personally accounting for eleven dead and four captured. Sergeant Pumilia’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 76th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.