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 Major General Orlando Ward (ASN: 0-3729), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division, in action against enemy forces in March 1943 in Tunisia. Making a personal reconnaissance of the enemy position during the night preceding the attack, General Ward visited the forward elements of his armored infantry and tank units which were to make the assault. Throughout, he was under fire from high velocity guns and sweeping machine gun fire. He found hesitant reserves whom he organized into units and led forward. General Ward came upon forward troops pinned down by enemy fire and unready to proceed with the planned attack. Again he walked calmly among the men, calling attention to their own supporting artillery fire, illustrating that he could move without being hit. He reorganized scattered units, personally encouraged the wavering infantrymen, and then, radio communication to the tanks being out, walked through enemy fire to direct the gun fire of his tanks upon the objectives to neutralize the enemy machine gun fire and enable the assault teams to carry out their mission. He was wounded by a machine gun bullet but did not retire for medical attention until the attack was launched. Throughout the morning hours, his presence among the troops, his words of reason and encouragement, and his unconcerned progress across terrain bathed in machine gun fire, brought order out of confusion, courage out of hesitancy, progress out of inertia, and inspired a coordinated attack. Major General Ward’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, the 1st Armored Division, and the United States Army.