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 Corporal Willard Lynn Clinch (ASN: RA-12284679), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Corporal Clinch distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Pabalmak, Korea, on 12 February 1951. On that date, Company C was engaged in an assault against a well-fortified and camouflaged enemy force holding positions on Hill 350. As Corporal Clinch led his squad forward, the men were suddenly subjected to intense and accurate fire from hidden enemy snipers. As the men began to falter, he moved out toward the objective, shouting words of encouragement to his squad and urging them to follow. Inspired by his courage, the men renewed their assault and had moved to within thirty yards of the crest of the hill when they were met by a devastating volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire from the hostile emplacements. This forced them to seek cover. With the enemy hurling grenades down the hill, the positions soon became untenable and Corporal Clinch, realizing that his men faced annihilation, unhesitatingly charged forward across the fire-swept terrain. Upon reaching a point ten yards from the enemy defense, he knelt and threw grenades until he had succeeded in neutralizing the enemy resistance at that point. Then, while urging his men forward in the assault, he was hit and mortally wounded by sniper fire. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Corporal Clinch on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.