Cecil G. Smith

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Cecil G. Smith, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while commanding a composite group of personnel from the 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Smith distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces between Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri, Korea, on 7 December 1950. Lieutenant Smith was proceeding with elements of the FIRST Marine Division in a motor convoy from Hagaru-ri to Koto-ri when fire from a well-entrenched enemy machine-gun, supporting approximately one hundred infantry troops, isolated a portion of the convoy and began to inflict heavy casualties. A platoon that was ordered to charge the machine-gun position was pinned own by heavy fire. Realizing the impending danger, Lieutenant Smith crossed approximately three hundred yards of open terrain under constant point-blank fire and, employing grenades and rifle fire, destroyed the enemy machine-gun and its crew. Lieutenant Smith’s conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity enabled the unit to attack and annihilate the enemy force, precluding further casualties among his men and permitting continuation of orderly withdrawal.