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 Corporal Edward W. Blanchette (ASN: 71066), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 16 October 1918. Although wounded and ordered to the rear, Corporal Blanchette continued to lead his platoon after his sergeant had been killed and continued in command until he dropped from exhaustion.