The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant John R. Manuel (ASN: RA-18280500), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Squad Leader with Company E, 2d Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Sergeant Manuel distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Twi-got, Korea, on 9 March 1951. Sergeant Manuel led his rifle squad against a numerically superior enemy force entrenched on Hill 1232. As the platoon moved forward toward their objective, they came under intense enemy automatic-weapons and small-arms fire which pinned the entire assault wave down. Immediately, Sergeant Manuel began moving his squad forward but several of his men were hit by enemy fire. Realizing that the platoon faced probable annihilation, Sergeant Manuel, displaying outstanding courage, moved rapidly toward the enemy until a burst of fire from an automatic weapons position killed him. By this selfless, gallant act, he succeeded in diverting the hostile fire from his men, thereby allowing them to regroup, continue the assault, and force the enemy from the hill. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Sergeant Manuel on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.