Harry A. Skerry

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Harry A. Skerry, Colonel (Corps of Engineers), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer of the 14th Engineer Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in action against enemy forces on 16 and 22 January 1942, in the Philippine Islands. On 16 January 1942 Colonel Skerry, accompanied only by his driver, was inspecting the reconstruction of a bridge south of Moron and beyond the main line of resistance, when an enemy force opened fire with rifles and machine guns on a force of engineer troops nearby, forcing them to withdraw, Colonel Skerry and his driver hastened to position beyond the bridge and opened fire on the enemy’s flank. They maintained their fire until the arrival of patrols which drove back the hostile forces, whereupon this officer returned to the bridge site and reorganized the Engineer troops who subsequently completed the bridge. Again on 22 January 1942, Colonel Skerry displayed a high devotion to duty and disregard for the hazard represented by enemy snipers when he preceded a column of troops on the Bagac-Moron Road to assure that all land mines installed by the enemy that morning had been removed. He was fired on by hostile snipers, but with the timely arrival of a cavalry troop, the snipers were driven out. Returning to the mined area, he insured the safety of the troop column by re- checking on the removal of all land mines, dispatching a specimen mine for subsequent examination by ordnance experts. Colonel Skerry’s intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.