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 Private First Class Frederick Speed Richardson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 19 and 20 July 1944. Armed with an automatic rifle, Private First Class Richardson voluntarily and with fearless courage occupied a precarious position near a vital bridge which was the target for intense artillery and mortar fire. With devastating accuracy, he killed or wounded forty Germans and forced the surrender of twenty-one others, including an officer. So deadly was his fire that the enemy requested and received a three-hour truce in which to evacuate the dead and wounded from the area near his position. Shortly after firing was resumed, Private First Class Richardson was seriously wounded by an artillery shell. By his coolness under fire, devotion to duty and a determination to destroy the enemy, Private First Class Richardson acted in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflected great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.