Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private 1st Class

Unit:

Company F, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army (Company F, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army)

By direction of the President the Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to the following individual: Walter J. Dilbeck, Jr., 35 481 476, Private First Class, Company F, 253d Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on the 6th of April 1945, in the vicinity of Buchhof, Germany. When his company was hit from two sides by a strong and determined enemy force of over two hundred SS troops, Private First Class Dilbeck observed that panic was running wild among our troops. Everyone just took off for the rear allowing the enemy forces to move into the foxholes as fast as they were vacated. From this new position the Germans poured out a deadly stream of automatic and small arms fire causing terrific casualties among the Americans and giving them no chance to reorganize. Realizing that something had to be done to stop the enemy attack, Private First Class Dilbeck stopped voluntarily on a bare knoll and began to pour deadly automatic rifle fire into the ranks of the charging SS troops. With conspicuous gallantry and determination he stood his ground even through all the fire power of the enemy was almost upon him, but he continued to fire as fast as he could change magazines. The enemy attack finally stalled because of their terrible losses. Private First Class Dilbeck had killed or wounded over sixty of the SS troops. Because of his indomitable courage and fearless tenacity, Private First Class Dilbeck saved the lives of many of his comrades and made it possible for his company to withdraw successfully, reorganize and hold its new position.

Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 92 (1946).