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 Technician Fifth Grade Vitolt Zigmund Bogdonovich (ASN: 31380465), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the Anti-Tank Company, 114th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Sarreguexines, France, on 31 December 1944. When the Germans launched a fierce attack, Technician Fifth Grade Bogdonovich, gunner of an anti-tank squad, played a heroic part in the defense of his zone. Upon receiving the alert from the Observation posts that the enemy was attacking without armor, he prepared to fight with an automatic rifle. He posted himself in the doorway of a house near his position and, as soon as the outline of the advancing Germans appeared, he opened fire from an exposed position near the door, unloading magazine after magazine into the advancing enemy. He remained in his exposed firing position while the remainder of the men fired from covered positions which could not cover the with of the front as Technician Fifth Grade Bogdonovich could. During this defense, he was under continual small arms fire for three hours. Two enemy grenades struck the wall directly behind him less that five yards away but he clung doggedly to his post. When the ball ammunition he had been using was exhausted, he procured ore ammunition from another house 50 yards away. Despite this ammunition was mixed with tracers, and realizing the danger of firing tracer ammunition at night, Technician Fifth Grade Bogdonovich chose not to waste time separating the ball from the tracer. It was through his use of this ammunition that the enemy finally succeeded in striking him down. When daylight permitted inspection at the end of the attack, at least 22 enemy dead lay piled before his position. Technician Fifth Grade Bogdonovich’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 44th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.