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 Corporal Erasmo G. Lopez, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Corporal Lopez distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Chik-tong, Korea, on 16 May 1951. When his company was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force, Corporal Lopez, a machine gunner, remained in position and delivered withering fire on the assaulting enemy masses, inflicting many casualties. Undaunted by the continual enemy attacks, he steadfastly remained in position, continually sweeping the area clear of the enemy with his devastating machine gun fire. When his ammunition was expended, Corporal Lopez held the hostile troops off with grenades and small-arms fire until additional ammunition was brought forward to his position. Supplied with more ammunition, Corporal Lopez again opened a deadly stream of fire on the enemy, heedless of the small-arms fire and mortar bursts which were striking near his position, until the hostile troops, after suffering tremendous casualties, were repulsed. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Corporal Lopez throughout this engagement was instrumental in the defeat of the enemy and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service of the United States.