Francis J. Blais

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Francis J. Blais, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action in Italy on 17 April 1945. While leading an attack, all the men in his squad were killed. Picking up a machine gun, Sergeant Blais advanced alone in the face of heavy enemy fire until his ammunition was exhausted. Then taking up a German machine-gun, he assaulted an enemy strong point, capturing 35 prisoners himself and causing another 150 of the enemy to surrender.