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 Captain (Medical Corps) Roy Ellis Baze (ASN: 0-377640), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Officer with the 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Separate), SIXTH U.S. Army, in action against enemy forces in France. On 23 August 1944, the enemy counterattacked the heights in the vicinity of Cannes, France, taken that day by Company C of the 1st Battalion. The assault, supported by self-propelled artillery, was of the greatest intensity near a creed and bridge in this area, and casualties were occurring rapidly. On his way to render urgently needed medical aid in this sector, Captain Baze was halted at a demolished bridge half a mile below the area under assault, and warned not to proceed any further as the enemy was on the road leading to that area and subjecting it to heavy artillery fire. Determined to aid the wounded men, Captain Baze placed a litter on his shoulder and, taking the Red Cross flag from his jeep, crossed the river below the demolished bridge, and proceeded the half mile to his objective despite intermittent artillery fire, and intense mortar and small arms fire. Reaching the bridge on the far bank, he swam the deep creek to the other side, took command of the situation, treated the wounded, restored morale and order, and directed and assisted in the evacuation. Not until five hours later, after another hazardous trip down the road and repeated crossings of the creek to assure the safe evacuation of all wounded, did Captain Baze leave the sector under assault. The following day, while accomplishing a similar mission, he was killed when his jeep ran over a mine. Captain Baze’s extraordinary bravery and self-sacrificing efforts will long live in the memory of the men for whom he risked his life, and is worthy of the highest traditions of the United States Army.