The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, has awarded the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS to Sergeant Ernest G. Wagner, Jr. for extraordinary heroism in action in Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 24 February 1945. When Company C, 145th Infantry attacked a heavily defended concrete building during the last phase of the battle for Manila, Sergeant Wagner, a rocket launcher operator was one of the first to reach the top of the building in an attempt to neutralize the pillboxes thereon. Immediately receiving fire from two enemy emplacements at short range, he advanced, heedless of his safety, through the hail of bullets and with accurate rocket fire, destroyed both positions and their crews. A third well-fortified pillbox still remained and without hesitation, Sergeant Wagner moved forward through heavy rifle, machine gun and grenade fire to within fifteen yards of the emplacement. As it crumbled, eight Japanese fled to a small ditch and continued their fire. Obtaining more ammunition, Sergeant Wagner moved across the rubble-strewn area to within ten yards of the enemy and accurately launched a single rocket which killed all eight. Discarding his launcher, he seized his rifle, and opening fire on the panic-stricken Japanese below, assisted his comrades until the last defender was killed. Sergeant Wagner’s outstanding courage and inspiring determination to destroy the enemy heedless of his own safety exemplifies the highest traditions of the Infantry.