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 Private First Class Walter R. Hanson (ASN: 303179), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 128th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Gesnes, France, October 7 – 8, 1918. When his battalion was forced to withdraw three times successively within forty-eight hours, Private Hanson each time went out in front of the line under intense machine-gun and shell fire, and rescued wounded men.