The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William Thomas Miles, Jr. (ASN: RA-13266703), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations as a member of the 4th Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), serving with the 8086th Army Unit Special Troops, Korean Military Assistance Group (KMAG), in action on 6 July 1951, in North Korea. On that date, Sergeant Miles participated in a classified mission, code named SPITFIRE, behind enemy lines in the vicinity of Karyoju-ri, North Korea, was, along with two other special operations soldiers, attempting to retrieve supply bundles dropped earlier that morning on the wrong drop zone when his group came under fire from a Chinese company advancing toward SPITFIRE’s main base of operations. Sergeant Miles could have broken contact and evaded but elected to engage in a delaying action to give SPITFIRE’s main body time to escape and evade despite knowing he and the other two were facing impossible odds and this decision would likely result in his own death, which it did. Surviving SPITFIRE members reported the ensuing firefight lasted thirty or so minutes, giving them time to clear the area and evade, eventually reaching friendly lines after a twenty-one day odyssey. Sergeant Miles’ actions saved his fellow team members from death or capture and are well above and beyond the call of duty. His heroism, valor, and leadership characteristics are in the finest traditions of the United State’s Army and reflect great credit upon him and the military service.