Robert V. Secord

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert V. Secord, Private, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces on 14 August 1944, near Estreos-la-Champaigne, France. As his platoon of the 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) was advancing under a heavy and sustained artillery and mortar barrage, Private Secord carried out his duties as medical orderly coolly and skillfully. Caught in a shellburst while dressing the wounds of a sergeant, he threw himself across his body to shield him from further injury, thereby sacrificing his life.