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 Brigadier General (Medical Corps) Crawford Fountain Sams (ASN: 0-18261), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Chief, Public Health and Welfare Section, United Nations Command. Brigadier General Sams distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 13 and 14 March 1951. General Sams acquitted himself with rare distinction as head of a special operations group whose hazardous mission of personally determining the possible presence of a pestilential disease among personnel of enemy forces dictated deep infiltration into enemy-held territory. Although information had been received from ashore that other landing parties had been captured and the operation was known to the enemy and could result in a trap, General Sams nevertheless continued on his mission. Through rough surf under the cover of darkness and potential threat of enemy shore fortifications and capture by a ruthless foe, General Sams and his party of three embarked in a small boat from an off-shore rendezvous at 2000 on the night of 13 March 1951, later transferring to a four-man rubber raft and arrived ashore three hours later. Reaching the beach, he proceeded inland and interrogated friendly personnel and evaluated vital information obtained the through sustained personal reconnaissance of enemy-held territory, including military hospitals and native villages. At 0230 on 14 March 1951, General Sam’s party returned to the off-shore rendezvous with conclusive information of such significance as to effect the immediate conduct of the United Nations armed effort in Korea. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Brigadier General on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.