Clifford C. Finn

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Clifford C. Finn (RA21904275), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a driver with Company B, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Private First Class Finn distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Anju, Korea, on 4 November 1950. On that date, enemy forces in overwhelming numbers attacked positions held by Private First Class Finn’s unit through wooded, hilly terrain. The enemy attack involved flanking and infiltrating movements, and was executed with speed and vigor in an attempt to encircle the positions. Private Finn, a driver, instantly manned the machine-gun mounted on his vehicle and delivered deadly accurate bursts of fire into the ranks of the advancing enemy, which for a few moments halted their advance in his sector. At this time, Private Finn started the vehicle, and despite the hail of small-arms fire delivered against him, drove it forward toward the enemy. He again manned his machine-gun and continued his deadly destruction of the enemy troops until mortally wounded, but in so doing, killed at least twenty-five enemy soldiers, and materially assisted in the defense of the company command post.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 78, (February 17, 1951)