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 Philip J. Scheero (ASN: 33142266), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 9 February 1945. Private First Class Scheero was a messenger in an infantry company charged with capturing a concrete power plant building on Provisor Island, a small plot of land covered with buildings and completely surrounded by estuaries of the Pasig River. After fighting for four hours against a numerically superior enemy, they were driven from the building and dug in behind a coal pile near its entrance. The enemy, supported by fire from atop the structure, then attempted to outflank the group on both sides, and offered a serious threat to the assault troops. Every man in the group had been wounded or killed and one soldier who had attempted to swim for aid had been killed by enemy fire while crossing the estuary. Despite the fact that the estuary was covered by grazing fire from enemy automatic weapons, Private First Class Scheero volunteered to attempt to secure aid, and was hit and killed before reaching safety. Private First Class Scheero, through his outstanding gallantry in sacrificing his life while attempting to his beleaguers comrades exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.