(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 First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Thomas Zabski, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 3d Regiment, First Special Service Force, in action against enemy forces near Coppagna, Italy, on 4 January 1944. Early in the morning, First Lieutenant Zabski’s platoon began an attack on two ridges held by the Germans. The temperature was below freezing, the ground was covered by snow, and there was a full moon. First Lieutenant Zabski’s men moved with care and a minimum of noise as they approached to within 75 yards of their first objective. At the attack signal they gained the top of the ridge, discovering a number of enemy machine gun nests, protected by machine pistols, which had to be eliminated. First Lieutenant Zabski was in the lead as they advanced. Part of the platoon was pinned down 40 yards away, but First Lieutenant Zabski, with five men, continued advancing toward the first installation which was firing on them as they proceeded. Two of the five men were wounded. First Lieutenant Zabski, ahead of his men, reached a position from which he was able to throw three hand grenades at the machine gun nest. The last killed one gunner and two others surrendered. First Lieutenant Zabski organized what men he could find in the dark, finding six of them, and led them toward the next objective. Two more of his men were wounded but the position was knocked out. Once more he regrouped his men, only four now, and once more he led them toward the next enemy strongpoint. They crept to it, despite heavy fire, and threw grenades which destroyed the position. The four position was on top of the hill in a spot more difficult to approach. First Lieutenant Zabski assigned one man to fire rifle grenades at it while he and the other three men crawled forward around the knoll. One of his men destroyed the enemy position but was killed while doing so. First Lieutenant Zabski was able to collect 10 men of his original platoon which then began to move forward. As the group began to dig in, he found that he had missed one enemy nest, lying between the third and fourth positions he had knocked out. This gun was pinning down the company commander and a covering force. One more First Lieutenant Zabski moved toward the enemy and knocked out the last remaining enemy from the hill. In one hour and 45 minutes after the attack started, First Lieutenant Zabski and his men captured five German machine guns and three machine pistols. First Lieutenant Zabski’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.