Ermer O. Canant

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Ermer O. Canant (0-2262856), First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Battery A, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Canant distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hurullae, Korea, on 27 September 1951. Observing a member of a combat patrol, which had become pinned down by intense enemy fire, lying wounded and helpless on open terrain, Lieutenant Canant left his place of safety and rushed to the aid of the stricken man. While returning the casualty to friendly lines, he was severely wounded in the lower jaw and was unable to talk. He succeeded, however, in assisting the wounded soldier to a place of safety some three hundred yards to the rear and returned to his former position. Refusing evacuation, with motions and gestures, he ably assisted in the reorganization of the patrol and the direction of its successful defense until ordered to retire for medical treatment.