The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Sergeant Cola Almon Gray (ASN: 109262), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 102d Machine-Gun Battalion, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Marcheville, France, 26 September 1918. When all of his officers had been wounded, Sergeant Gray took command of the company and led it throughout the attack under terrific fire from all arms, showing high qualities of leadership and personal bravery.