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 Carl Werner Uessler (ASN: 32870041), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 8 February 1945. Private First Class Uessler was a scout of an infantry platoon attacking the Paco Railroad Station in Manila. The platoon was caught in a heavy enemy 90-mm. mortar barrage, and approximately sixty enemy soldiers attempted a flanking movement in order to attack in the rear. Private First Class Uessler had advanced about one hundred yards in front of his platoon when the enemy opened fire, wounding him in the hand. Taking cover, he heard the muzzle report of enemy mortars nearby and immediately made an attempt to locate the weapons. Despite his wound, he ran through intense enemy cross-fire to a building across the street and, exposing himself to rifle and automatic weapons fire, climbed to the roof of a house to observe the enemy positions. Discovering five installations two hundred yards distant, he took careful aim, opened rifle fire, and killed the enemy five-man crew at the first mortar. He drew heavy return fire, but remained in his exposed position for forty-five minutes, killed twenty of the enemy and drove the remainder from their mortars. New gun crews repeatedly attempted to return to mortars, but were driven back by Private First Class Uessler’s accurate fire. Private First Class Uessler’s courageous action not only caused the Japanese to desist from firing their mortars, consequently saving his platoon from heavy casualties, but was unquestionably directly responsible for the success of the day’s mission. Private First Class Uessler, in a later engagement in Manila, lost his life in the vicinity of Taft and Tennessee Avenues. Private First Class Uessler’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 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.