The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant First Class Howard Clarence Wurst, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Sergeant First Class Wurst distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chung-myon, Korea, on 14 July 1951. On that date, Sergeant Wurst was placed in charge of an ambush patrol in an outpost position with the mission of checking any enemy attempts to attack the battalion’s patrol base. In the early morning hours a squad of hostile troops launched a surprise assault and succeeded in overrunning the patrol’s machine-gun emplacement. Observing this, Sergeant Wurst charged the enemy-held position in a fearless, single-handed assault, firing his carbine and hurling grenades. This sudden and aggressive action caused the enemy troops to withdraw from the emplacement and Sergeant Wurst immediately called to his men to move forward and reoccupy the position. While the friendly forces were still in the process of setting up their defenses, they were again attacked, this time from the front and both flanks, by an estimated two companies of the enemy. Quickly, Sergeant Wurst organized his men, put the machine-gun in operating condition, and deployed his forces for an effective defense. Despite the heavy volume of enemy fire concentrated on him, Sergeant Wurst repeatedly moved from position to position across the exposed terrain, calming and encouraging his men and directing their fire. He then called for friendly mortar and artillery support by radio and directed fire against the enemy with such devastating precision that the attack was broken and the hostile troops were forced to withdraw with many casualties. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Sergeant First Class Wurst on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.