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 Lieutenant (Infantry) Marvin L. Atkins, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Souplet, France, 18 October 1918. Continuing in action after being gassed, Lieutenant Atkins displayed exceptional personal bravery when the advance of his platoon was checked by heavy machine-gun fire, in seizing the gun of a wounded soldier and attacking a machine-gun, which he silenced and captured. Under the inspiration of this fearless act his company overcame several other machine-gun emplacements and reached the objective.