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 Private First Class Hubert William Ashby (ASN: 20845484), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 158th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 41st Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Arare, Dutch New Guinea, on 31 May 1944. On that date the enemy attacked his company perimeter, hidden in the darkness of night, the moon having been hidden by a heavy overcast. An estimated force of 75 to 100 Japanese engaged the lines, screaming in English for the Americans to hold their fire. They rushed in with dynamite and mines attacked to their belts, jumping into foxholes with the American, attempting to catch and hole them until the dynamite exploded. Private Ashby was acting gunner of a heavy machinegun assigned to the perimeter defense. A ruptured cartridge cause his gun to jamb after about 30 rounds had been fired. Seeing that it was impossible to remedy the stoppage because the enemy was so close, he went into action with his Tommy gun and his pistol, firing into the main body of the attackers until all his ammunition was expended. He then threw his pistol into the face of one Japanese soldier and engaged others in hand-to-hand combat with his trench knife, killing two of the enemy who were using bayonets. He then engaged two enemy who had succeeded in reaching his heavy machinegun and were beating on the water jacket with shovels, attempting to wreck the weapon. With his trench knife, he killed both enemy soldiers. When the fighting subsided, Private Ashby was still in possession of his gun and twenty-four enemy dead were counted within seven yards of the front line of defense, and three additional dead were found within the perimeter, at least five of them known to have been killed by Private Ashby. Without his courageous, aggressive actions the enemy would have broken through, inflicting heavy casualties upon the American force. Private First Class Ashby’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.