Lawrence G. Sweeney

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lawrence G. Sweeney (33266510), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 741st Tank Battalion, attached to the 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on D-Day, 6 June 1944, during the invasion of Normandy, France. Upon landing with the initial assault wave in the invasion of France, Private First Class Sweeney’s tank received several direct hits. Courageously, he remained within the tank and fired at the enemy until his ammunition supply was exhausted. Dismounting, he fearlessly ran across the fire-swept beach, secured additional ammunition and returned to continue his devastating fire. A short while later, he was assigned the hazardous mission of reconnoitering an exit from the beach. Crawling through intense artillery, mortar and small arms fire, he reached his objective and observed that heavy fire from the area had pinned the assaulting infantrymen to the ground. With great valor, he voluntarily mounted an abandoned tank, fired at hostile strongpoints and neutralized several gun emplacements. On another dangerous assignment, Private First Class Sweeney, with complete disregard for his own safety, preceded several tanks in an assault and, as heavy caliber shells fell dangerously near him, coolly and calmly removed wounded men from the path of the tanks. By his great courage and selfless devotion to duty and marked valor, Private First Class Sweeney exemplified the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States, reflecting great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.