Earl R. Hensel

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Earl R. Hensel (36563718), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 16 April 1945, in Germany. Though painfully wounded, Private First Class Hensel volunteered to lead a three- man squad 150 yards up a street covered by devastating artillery, machine gun, and small arms fire. Charging the hostile strongpoint, he forced its occupants to flee. When intense machine gun fire from a barn less than 50 yards away forced him to take cover, he made several attempts to break through the hail of fire. In his third attempt upon the gun position, he was struck and killed. Private First Class Hensel’s intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 30th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.