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) Walter Sheldon Lewis, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Lewis distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Samt’ae-dong, Korea, on 23 September 1951. On that date, the company of which Lieutenant Lewis was a member was assigned to attack a strategic hill which had barred the advance of a large friendly assaulting force. After several costly attacks, Lieutenant Lewis was the only platoon leader who had not been rendered a casualty. Without hesitation he organized all of the remaining friendly troops into a single group and fearlessly led them in a renewed attack. Charging directly into the heavy enemy fire, he reached a point on an intermediate objective where he directed his men to establish a defense line. Constantly moving among the friendly troops with words of encouragement, Lieutenant Lewis then led his men in three attacks against the enemy positions, each of which was unsuccessful because of the tremendous volume of hostile fire. In the fourth attempt, he cautiously led his men up the steep slope and then charged forward alone toward a key enemy bunker. Disregarding the heavy fire being concentrated on him by the enemy, he fearlessly attacked the position and destroyed it with grenades. After shouting to his men to move forward, he maneuvered around the crest of the enemy-held hill and neutralized the hostile emplacements, one by one. In this manner, the strategic area was secured. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant Lewis on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.