United States. A Second War DSC to Private First Class Roy R. Tardiff, Killed in Action at Leyte Island, Philippines

Distinguished Service Cross (in bronze, engraved "ROY R. TARDIFF" on the reverse, measuring 46.5 mm (w) x 51.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, original ribbon with brooch pinback, accompanied by its 36 mm (w) x 10.5 mm (h) Ribbon Bar and its 17 mm (w) x 3.8 mm (h) enameled Ribbon Bar with button hole attachment, in its hardshelled case of issue, marked "DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS" on the lid, lightly soiled on the inside lid lining); Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Arrowhead and Bronze Star (in bronze, measuring 31.8 mm in diameter, bronze Arrowhead and Bronze Star affixed to its original ribbon with brooch pinback); and World War II Victory Medal (in bronze, measuring 36.2 mm in diameter, original ribbon with brooch pinback). Accompanied by a book entitled "The Deadeyes - The Story of the 96th Infantry Division" by Orlando R. Davidson, J. Carl Willems & Joseph A. Kahl (First Edition published in February 1947, Reprinted by The Battery Press, Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee in 1981, containing 328 pages with text and photos printed in black ink, hardcover gray cloth-bound cover with text and 96th Infantry Division insignia in navy blue, white and gold-colored inks, mentioning Private Roy R. Tardiff in action on page 52 and as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for actions at Leyte Island on page 263, measuring 220 mm (w) x 285 mm (h) x 19 mm (d)). Footnote: Roy R. Tardiff was born on July 4, 1921 in Bay City, Bay County, Michigan, the son of John B. Tardiff and Josephine Tardiff. He was a lifelong resident of Bay City, was a member of the Visitation Church, and attended Visitation and T.L. Handy High Schools. Tardiff was 22 when he enlisted as a Private (36467017) in the United States Army on February 22, 1944, going overseas in September of that year and later achieved the rank of Private First Class. Private Roy R. Tardiff (ASN: 36467017) was serving with Company L, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, United States Army, as part of the amphibious unit of the Division, when he was Killed in Action at Leyte Island in the Philippines, on November 14, 1944. He was "awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 14 November 1944, at Leyte, Philippine Islands. Private Tardiff's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 96th Infantry Division, and the United States Army." His citation stating: "When the platoon in which Pvt. Tardiff was servicing as an ammunition bearer was engaged in the assault of a heavily fortified ridge position, the advance was halted by intense machine gun and rifle fire. Picking up a light machine gun, Pvt. Tariff charged the enemy position, firing as he went. He destroyed one machine gun and with complete disregard for his personal safety continued to deliver withering fire from an exposed position until he fell mortally wounded. Electrified by his actions, the platoon moved forward and destroyed the enemy." An except from page 52 of "The Deadeyes - The Story of the 96th Infantry Division" by Orlando R. Davidson, J. Carl Willems & Joseph A. Kahl describes Tardiff's heroism that day: "One of the most heroic episodes of the campaign occured on November 14 (1944) when L Company attacked a fortified ridge, and was stopped by a Jap machine gun. Pfc. Rot Tardiff spotted it, charged single-handedly firing a light machine gun, and wiped out the enemy crew. He was still moving forward when he was fatally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross." First Class Roy R. Tardiff died on November 14, 1944 in Leyte, Leyte Province, Eastern Visayas, Philippines, at the age of 23 and was interred in the Philippines. After the war, his remains were returned to the United States and re-interred in Saint Patrick Cemetery in his hometown of Bay City, Bay County, Michigan. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Josephine Tardiff, two brothers and four sisters, his father deceased at the time of his son's death.