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 Roy D. Sawyer, Jr. (ASN: 36382065), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Troop B, 3d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), 3d Cavalry Group (Separate), in action against enemy forces in Germany. On 16 March 1945, Private Sawyer was a member of a patrol attempting to re-establish contact with a friendly platoon in a heavily wooded area near Riol, Germany. As the patrol neared the edge of a clearing, two hostile machine guns opened fire, instantly killing two members of the patrol. Private Sawyer gallantly maintained an exposed position so that he could fire upon the enemy emplacement. Faltering momentarily when fatally wounded in the sharp action which ensued, he continued to pour deadly fire at the hostile machine gun until; he had diverted its fire to himself and enabled the remaining members of the patrol to withdraw safely. Private Sawyer’s heroic self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.