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 Arnold Klaesi (ASN: 39446), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. Although weakened from the effects of having been twice gassed, Private Klaesi voluntarily left his place of comparative safety and advanced under terrific artillery and machine-gun fire to the aid of his company commander who had been severely wounded, and assisted him to the rear. Informed by his commanding officer that he might remain a the rear, Private Klaesi returned to the front line and continued in action.