(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) William R. Schweikert (ASN: 0-391396), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 132d Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (Americal), in action against enemy forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 2 January 1943. Strongly fortified enemy gun emplacements in the vicinity of a hill had halted the advance of a battalion and heavy losses had been inflicted on the American Infantrymen. During an attack by the battalion in an effort to destroy this resistance, First Lieutenant Schweikert volunteered to carry out a plan proposed by himself which was to eliminate the resistance by crawling, stealthily, through a heavily wooded draw in which there were located enemy snipers in the trees, to a flank position where hand grenades might be used to accomplish the task. First Lieutenant Schweikert accomplished his mission, silencing the enemy machine gun, although he received a shoulder wound by fire from a sniper while he hurled grenades at the enemy position, and subsequently suffered two mortal wounds in his back as he attempted to return. First Lieutenant Schweikert’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.