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 Colonel (Infantry) Harry S. Howland, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 138th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cheppy, France, 26 September 1918. After losing touch with his first and second line battalions, due to unusually heavy fog. Colonel Howland, with a mixed detachment (partly non-combatant), penetrated to a point immediately in front of the German line of resistance. While getting better cover for his detachment under heavy shell fire and direct machine-gun fire, Colonel Howland was wounded in the hand by a shell fragment. After three hours’ delay, tanks arrived, and Colonel Howland advanced with his detachment, taking the enemy position with many prisoners. After remaining in the attack for over seven hours he was evacuated because of the wound in his hand.