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 Technical Sergeant Earl J. Cashmore (ASN: 20602970), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 17 March 1944 at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, when he recaptured a strategic American pillbox which had been taken by the Japanese during a night attack. After softening the heavily-fortified pillbox with rifle grenades, Sergeant Cashmore crawled, in the face of intense enemy fire, to within five yards of the enemy and hurled hand grenades into the position. He then crawled back and secured a submachine gun with which he charged the enemy-occupied fortification twice, firing through the slits of the pillbox and spraying the inside with devastating fire. When his ammunition was exhausted, he used grenades and a borrowed rifle to relentlessly press his attack until the enemy was destroyed. Seven Japanese dead were found in the fortification. By his conspicuous bravery in this action, an important pillbox was restored to his company and the enemy was prevented from driving a wedge into positions in a sector of the American perimeter guarding the Empress Augusta Bay beachhead. Technical Sergeant Cashmore’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, the 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.