Shirley R. Landon

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Shirley R. Landon (0-1301165), Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant], U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company G, 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 19 December 1944, near Berg, Germany. After assuming command of his unit when the company commander became a casualty a few hours earlier, Captain Landon led an attack on the Siegfried Line. Under extremely heavy mortar, automatic-weapons, and small-arms fire which pinned down his men, he rushed back to friendly tank destroyers and led them forward to crush barbed wire barriers and enable his troops to advance against enemy pillboxes and supporting trenches. Remaining continually at the head of his company, he exhorted it in vicious hand-to-hand fighting. He moved from pillbox to pillbox firing his submachine gun and pistol through their slits. He stormed trenches with gallant disregard for his own safety. When his ammunition was expended, he picked up a weapon from the battlefield and carried on, urging his command to tremendous efforts. When a German gunner rushed from a pillbox and shot his runner and radio operator, Lieutenant Landon killed him with a grenade. Remaining in an exposed position, he repaired the radio and restored contact with his battalion commander. As the enemy withdrew, a concentration of hostile artillery and mortar fire struck the position. Following the barrage, a numerically superior force of German infantry supported by tank destroyers counterattacked. Captain Landon, although greatly handicapped by the loss of key personnel, directed a stand which repulsed the enemy with severe losses. The intrepid leadership, courage, and initiative of Lieutenant Landon and his disregard for his life so inspired his men that they were able successfully to attack a powerful enemy position, take it, and repel a determined counterthrust by superior enemy forces. Captain Landon’s 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, the 79th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.