(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 Albert Joe Tucker, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion, Special Engineer Task Force (Provisional), Engineer Special Brigade Group (Gap Support Team Number C), FIRST U.S. Army, in action against enemy forces at Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944. When the demolition team of combat engineers of which Private Tucker was a member, reached the shores of France on D-Day, they were delayed until high tide by which time German fire swept the beaches. The high tide made impossible any work on the underwater obstacles the team had come to destroy. Deciding not to wait until low tide, the engineers jumped from their landing craft and plunged through the hidden obstacles toward a place of comparative safety on the beach. Dropping to the ground under temporary shelter, they noticed that the officer in charge was missing, and looked back toward the beach. Crawling forward through the smoke and fire, the saw him, badly wounded and struggling at the water’s edge to escape the obstacle that had snagged him as he vainly sought to drag himself to the beach. Heedless of the enemy fire and the mine-studded beach, Private Tucker ran toward the helpless officer and stayed with him until he could get him to the beach, and then carried him to cover. Private Tucker’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.