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 Francis Dale Strowmatt, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Infantry Company. Sergeant First Class Strowmatt distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Sanjan, Korea, on the morning of 6 February 1952. On that date, Sergeant Strowmatt was a member of a patrol engaged in assaulting a key ridge held by a well-entrenched enemy force. As the patrol approached its objective, it was suddenly exposed to a vicious fusillade of hostile small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fire which halted its advance. Standing erect in full view of the enemy, Sergeant Strowmatt located a protected route to the enemy positions and led his men forward until they were close to their objective. Then, ordering his men to disperse, he crawled forward until he was ten yards from the foe. With the hostile now concentrating its entire firepower on him, he rapidly threw a series of grenades, which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy troops. When his grenades were exhausted, and with the foe still offering fanatical resistance, he ordered his men to throw him their grenades and to move back while he covered their withdrawal. Remaining alone at this hazardous post, Sergeant Strowmatt continued to throw grenades into the enemy trenches while his men moved to safety. With his grenades expended, he threw a charge of TNT into the hostile fortifications. The resulting explosion caused so much confusion that Sergeant Strowmatt was able to leave his exposed position and rejoin his men. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Sergeant First Class Strowmatt on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.