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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) David Guy Landes (ASN: 0-2206931), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Landes distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chorwon, Korea, on 7 September 1951. In the early morning hours on that date, Lieutenant Landes’ platoon was occupying a sector of a company defense perimeter which was located on the crest of a hill, well in advance of the friendly lines. In the darkness, several enemy patrols probed the friendly positions but they were repulsed in short, bitter engagements. These patrols, however, proved to be the vanguard of a large hostile force which suddenly launched a full-scale attack against the perimeter. While a heavy volume of enemy fire raked the friendly emplacements, the attackers advanced under cover of a smoke screen and breached the barbed-wire entanglements with explosive charges. Then with a rush, the hostile troops charged up the slope and concentrated their entire strength against one small sector of the perimeter. Under this unrelenting pressure, the defending squad began to fall back. Observing this, Lieutenant Landes, without regard for his personal safety, left his position and fought his way to the confused men. Battling hand-to-hand with the enemy in an effort to contact each man, he reorganized the friendly troops and directed them in an orderly withdrawal to a more defensible position. Seeing the command post fall into the hands of the enemy, he attempted to contact the company commander on a field telephone only to find that the instrument was no longer functioning. Realizing that his message was of vital importance, he fearlessly traveled across a wide expanse of exposed ground and personally delivered his information to his superior. After reporting the tactical situation, Lieutenant Landes crossed the fire-swept terrain once again and reorganized his platoon in an effort to drive the enemy from the friendly positions. Ordering his men to fix bayonets, he led them in a fierce counter-attack which routed the enemy from the perimeter with heavy losses. The courage, indomitable fortitude, and inspiring leadership displayed by First Lieutenant Landes reflect the highest credit on himself and the United States Army.