PFC JASPER T. HORNSBY was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in Luzon, Phillipine Islands, on June 16, 1944. When a platoon of Company F, 20th Infantry, 6th Division, was pinned down by a heavily defended Japanese strong point covering a rough stretch of ground near Barat, Luzon, Private Hornsby volunteered to act as lead scout of a unit ordered to flank the enemy position. Hornsby crawled forward to the crest of a knoll from which he located an enemy machine-gun placement flanked by supporting riflemen. He signaled the rest of the squad to take cover, and then continued forward until his movement attracted the attention of the Japanese and he became the object of heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Ignoring the shelter of a small draw a few yards away, and although seriously wounded in the side and arm, he continued his painful, grueling advance in the face of concentrated fire until he was within grenade-throwing distance. Weakening rapidly and partially dazed by his wounds, he now summoned all his remaining strength and hurled two grenades into the midst of the enemy placement and completely silenced the position. By his dauntless courage and selfless devotion to duty in most hazardous action, Private Hornsby prevented many casualties and enabled his platoon to drive on to its objective.

Mr. Hornsby joined the L.O.V. in 1985 as a life member and resides in Oklahoma.