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| Second Lieutenant Richard A. Kersting |
Class
of 2006
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United States Army
Distinguished Service Cross |
Citation
For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy on 11
July 1944, in France. Second Lieutenant Kersting
and the men with him, while proceeding on foot in advance
of a tank, encountered about 40 enemy soldiers. A running
fight developed with the Germans resisting from hours to house.
Second Lieutenant Kersting led his men in an assault in which
10 of the enemy were killed and the remaining Germans took
cover in one of the houses. Then, while covered by the fire
of the other soldiers and the tank, Second Lieutenant Kersting
though exposed to enemy fire, fearlessly made his way to the
door of the house, kicked it in and called to the Germans
to surrender. Led by their officer the Germans laid down their
arms, came out of the house and surrendered. As the last of
these soldiers left the building, Second Lieutenant Kersting
observed the muzzle of a rifle protruding from another door
in the same building. He pinned himself to the wall as a shot
was fired at him and then killed the enemy soldier who had
fired the shot. The aggressive leadership and personal bravery
displayed by Second Lieutenant Kersting reflects great credit
on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of
the Armed Forces.
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