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 Corporal Roy Andrew Braden (ASN: 38073348), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 10th Engineer Combat Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Nettuno, Italy, on 23 January 1944. In action on the FIFTH Army’s Anzio-Nettuno beachhead, Corporal Braden blew up a bridge in the face of an on-coming German motorized column. Corporal Braden, with Sergeant Charles I. Grant, another engineer soldier, in company with 18 infantrymen and a tank destroyer loaded with 350 pounds of TNT in 50-pound boxes, arrived at the bridge in daylight, under excellent German observation. Corporal Braden and the tank destroyer commander went forward to reconnoiter the site and to draw fire of enemy guns, in order to locate the German positions. When they discovered that the bridge drew no immediate fire, although located on a flat and unbroken stretch of ground, they guided infantrymen to advantageous firing positions near the bridge. By that time enemy machine gun and rifle fire was peppering the bridge. Corporal Braden and his comrade carried the cases of TNT, one-by-one, to the bridge while German high explosive shells were going off no more than 10 yards away. They then fixed the demolition cap, set the fuse and crawled some 150 yards away before blowing up the bridge. Corporal Braden’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.