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 Joseph Milford Truitt (ASN: RA-14276625), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sergeant Truitt distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chang-nak, Korea, on 19 September 1950. On that date, Company I was attacked by a strong enemy force and forced to withdraw from positions on Hill 201. The withdrawing unit was hampered by numerous casualties inflicted by the enemy and was forced to leave four seriously wounded men on the hill. Sergeant Truitt, a member of the Regimental Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon which was in position at the base of the hill, volunteered to climb three hundred and fifty yards to attempt to rescue them. As he neared the position, an enemy grenade exploded close by, knocking him down and wounding him in the chest. Despite the intense enemy fire and the pain from his wound, he continued up the fire-swept slope until he reached the wounded men. After administering first aid to the four stricken men, he carried one of them to a safe position at the foot of the hill. The heroic act of Sergeant Truitt so inspired one of his comrades that he volunteered to assist in the rescue operation, and together they succeeded in bringing two more of the wounded men down the slope to safety. During this second trip, Sergeant Truitt was knocked down twice by enemy grenades exploding close to him, but each time he regained his feet and continued on his self-imposed mission. Although weakened by loss of blood, and with enemy fire on the area increasing in intensity, he made a third trip up the hillside and succeeded in bringing the last of the wounded men to safety. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Sergeant Truitt on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.