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 Captain (Infantry) Fred P. DePalma (ASN: 0-59828), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of Company G, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Captain DePalma distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Waegwan, Korea, on 19 September 1950. While attacking a heavily defended enemy position blocking the American drive northward along the Taegu-Waegwan road, Captain DePalma’s company came under and was pinned down by intense enemy tank, mortar and small-arms fire. In the ensuing action Captain DePalma, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved from position to position in the intense enemy fire to rally his troops and issue instructions for continuing the attack. When ambushed by two enemy snipers at very close range, he returned their fire and killed them both. Stimulated by is selfless courage and inspirational leadership, his men left their places of concealment and launched a full-scale attack on the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties and destroying large quantities of ammunition and equipment. Though wounded during the attack, he refused to be evacuated and continued to lead his men forward until the objective had been taken. When his company was directed to withdraw from their newly-won position, he voluntarily elected to remain behind to cover his unit’s withdrawal and insure that all the wounded were evacuated. In attempting to rejoin the company, Captain DePalma was ambushed by an enemy patrol and in the fighting that followed he single-handedly killed six of the enemy before he was killed. Captain DePalma’s selfless courage and conspicuous devotion to duty in the face of enemy fire was responsible for opening a main supply route on the United Nations drive to the north. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Captain DePalma on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.