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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Fred Lee Lemmon, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 140th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Charpentry, France, September 27 – 28, 1918. Wounded severely in the chest, Lieutenant Colonel Lemmon remained in command of his battalion for 24 hours, until no longer able to walk. He showed a great personal courage and skill in leading his battalion against heavy shell and machine-gun fire, refusing to be evacuated until helpless from loss of blood.