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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Delbert Ervin Schultz, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as Executive Officer of the 3d Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 5, 17, and 26 February 1945. On 5 February 1945, heavy fires set by the enemy endangered the lives of 1,275 civilian and military prisoners held by the Japanese in Bilibid prison. While soldiers of the 148th Infantry Regiment fought the retreating enemy around the south wall of the prison, Lieutenant Colonel Schultz entered the prison and organized evacuation of the internees. Those able to walk were started back toward secure areas of the city. Ambulance cases from the prison hospital were placed on litters and carried into the prison yard to await arrival of trucks and ambulances to move them. The entire operation required three hours, all of it made dangerous by nearby gunfire and blazing debris from explosions in nearby buildings which showered the prison yard. Ammunition and gasoline dumps nearby were additional hazards. When the last patient had been evacuated, Lieutenant Colonel Schultz made a final personal inspection of the hospital to be sure that no one had been left behind. On 17 February, the same battalion of the 148th Infantry Regiment drove to the area of the Philippine General Hospital, housing 75 litter cases and several hundred walking cases. These had to be evacuated speedily before the Americans could clear the area of the bitterly-resisting Japanese. Lieutenant Colonel Schultz organized a rescue convoy of ambulances and led them into the hospital after first scouting the approaches personally to determine enemy defenses. While hastily-organized litter teams loaded the ambulances, Japanese machine gun fire raked the area, driving most of the rescuers to cover. Without regard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Colonel Schultz reorganized his remaining force and continued evacuation of the patients. He then checked the entire hospital before moving out of the front-line area. On 26 February, a company of his Regiment was under heavy enemy fire in a room-to-room battle for the Legislative Building. Reinforcements were held back by the withering enemy fire which swept all approaches to the building. Lieutenant Colonel Schultz dashed through machine gun fire across 100 yards of open ground to reach the soldiers pinned down inside the building. After making hasty sketches of enemy positions, he raced back over the dangerous open space to the Regimental Command Post. His sketches played a large part in the resultant capture of the important building. Lieutenant Colonel Schultz’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 and the United States Army.