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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Otto H. Yanke (ASN: 0-1081588), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action near Neubourg, France, on 24 January 1945. When the right sector of the battalion front was subjected to a fierce enemy counterattack, Lieutenant Yanke, in command of a platoon of heavy machine guns, braved an intense artillery and mortar barrage to make a reconnaissance of the situation. He then returned to his platoon’s position and personally manned one of his machine guns. Waiting until the enemy was almost upon him, he opened fire with devastating effect, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and breaking up the attack. As a result of his heroic action a major breakthrough by the enemy was averted. Lieutenant Yanke was later fatally wounded in action, but his extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty remain as a lasting inspiration to the men of his regiment.