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) Tracy W. Young (ASN: 0-527888), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces north of Ormoc, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 11 December 1944, on Leyte, Philippine Islands. Second Lieutenant Young was leading his platoon in an attack against a company of Japanese dug in at a bamboo thicket atop a steep ridge near Ormoc. Despite intense machine gun fire and exploding enemy grenades, he moved ahead of his platoon, killing seven of the enemy with his rifle at point-blank range. His platoon followed and eliminated eighty Japanese soldiers holding the bamboo thicket position. Then, enemy reinforcements from behind the ridge attacked and Second Lieutenant Young led a determined defense with bayonets. He moved from squad to squad, shouting encouragement and leading the defense, but ammunition ran low and the Japanese continued their attack. Rather than losing the gain his men had made at considerable cost, Second Lieutenant Young ordered his men to fix bayonets and leading from the front, he led a charge against the oncoming Japanese. Just as his men secured the ridge, Second Lieutenant Young was mortally wounded. Second Lieutenant Young’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 77th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.