Bautista P. Siaotong

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Bautista P. Siaotong (0-1897073), Second Lieutenant (Ordnance), [then Private], U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in action against enemy forces on 29 January 1942, at Bataan, Philippine Islands. Second Lieutenant Siaotong’s unit was engaged in dislodging a Japanese force which had landed at Longoskawayan Point, Bataan. Hand-to-hand fighting developed with the captain of the adjacent company in the midst of it. After the captain had fired the last round from his pistol at a Japanese officer, who was attacking with his sword and had severed the hand of the first sergeant, Lieutenant Siaotong, from the adjacent company, placed himself between the captain and the Japanese officer and killed the enemy with his rifle. Lieutenant Siaotong, by his courage and heroism, saved the life of the captain and deprived the Japanese forces of one of their commissioned officers. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.