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 Second Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Simeon Alexander Box (ASN: 0-472796), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. On 9 November 1942, near Arcole, Algeria, Lieutenant Box distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy. When the advance of his Battalion and an attached Artillery Battalion was stopped by determined anti-tank, machine gun, and small arms fire on the outskirts of Arcole, Lieutenant Box without hesitation, of his own volition and at the risk of his life, volunteered to go forward with Lieutenant Victor P. Brosokas, 16th Infantry Regiment, in a half-track vehicle. With this vehicle they overran and destroyed with hand grenades two strong enemy machine gun positions flanking the road. They then proceeded through the town machine gunning all resistance encountered and returned through severe rifle and machine gun fire, to the immobilized column. It was the bold action of Lieutenant Box which contributed largely to the withdrawal of the enemy and permitted the column to proceed. By his heroic achievement, exemplary bravery and devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Box acted in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.