Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Unit:

Company L, 261st Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Division "Battle-Axe", U.S. Army (Company L, 261st Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Division "Battle-Axe", U.S. Army)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Joseph W. Hairston (38147344), Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 261st Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 7 April 1945, in Germany. During an enemy tank-infantry attack at Struth, Germany, Sergeant Hairston gallantly exposed himself at great risk to deadly hostile grenade and rocket fire in order to thwart an attempted seizure of his company command post. Finding that an adjacent company was pinned down by withering enemy machine gun fire, Sergeant Hairston advanced through the enemy fire and eliminated the hostile crew with point-blank sub-machine gun fire. Later in the same action, he gallantly braved both enemy and friendly fire to seek out and lead to safety a besieged group of his comrades and their prisoners. Sergeant Hairston's heroic, intrepid actions and unflinching devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 65th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 205 (7 August 1945).