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 Sergeant [then Private First Class] Ernest G. Wagner, Jr. (ASN: 33655878), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 24 February 1945. When Company C, 145th Infantry attacked a heavily defended concrete building during the last phase of the battle for Manila, Sergeant Wagner, a rocket launcher operator, was one of the first to reach the top of the building in an attempt to neutralize the pillboxes thereon. Immediately receiving fire from two enemy emplacements at short range, he advanced, heedless of his safety, through the hail of bullets and with accurate rocket fire, destroyed both positions and their crews. A third well-fortified pillbox still remained and without hesitation, Sergeant Wagner moved forward through heavy rifle, machine gun and grenade fire to within fifteen yards of the emplacement. As it crumbled, eight Japanese fled to a small ditch and continued their fire. Obtaining more ammunition, Sergeant Wagner moved across the rubble-strewn area to within ten yards of the enemy and accurately launched a single rocket which killed all eight. Discarding the launcher, he seized his rifle, and opening fire on the panic-stricken Japanese below, assisted his comrades until the last defender was killed. Sergeant Wagner’s outstanding courage and inspiring determination to destroy the enemy heedless of his own safety exemplifies the highest traditions of the infantry and reflect great credit upon himself, the 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.