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) Luther Michelle McManus, Jr. (ASN: 0-975625), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant McManus distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Wolbong-ni, Korea, on 18 October 1951. On that date the company of which Lieutenant McManus was a member launched an attack on a strongly defended enemy-held hill. Lieutenant McManus observed that an adjacent assaulting platoon had been halted by a tremendous concentration of hostile fire. Upon investigating, he found that the leader of the platoon had become a casualty and that the friendly troops were becoming confused. Without hesitation, he crossed the fire-swept terrain and reorganized the friendly force, shouting words of encouragement and urging the men forward. When they had resumed their advance, he joined another platoon which was engaged in a fierce action and, upon discovering that it leader had also been wounded, he quickly assumed command. Inspiring the troops with his personal fearlessness, Lieutenant McManus called to them to fix their bayonets and then led them in a determined charge against the hostile positions. Halfway up the slope, the attacking force was subjected to a veritable rain of grenades and heavy automatic weapons fire. As the men faltered, Lieutenant McManus charged forward alone and, in the face of heavy enemy fire, attacked a key enemy bunker. Using his pistol and grenades, he fought toward the crest of the objective, and so inspired the friendly troops with his fighting spirit that they rushed forward and secured the hill. As the hostile troops retreated in disorder down the reverse slope, Lieutenant McManus seized an automatic rifle and inflicted heavy casualties among the fleeing enemy. Upon reorganizing the friendly force, he found that all the officers had become casualties, and so he immediately took command of the company and deployed the men in defensive positions in anticipation of an enemy counterattack. Throughout the night the enemy launched repeated assaults in an effort to regain their lost ground, but each was repulsed by the friendly troops under the aggressive leadership of Lieutenant McManus, who constantly moved about the perimeter, directing the fire of his men. On several occasions, he rushed to threatened spots in the defense line and personally repelled attacking masses of enemy troops with grenades and machine-gun fire. Through his superlative ability as a leader and his uncompromising devotion to duty, a hill of vital strategic importance was seized and held against tremendous odds. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant McManus on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.