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 Sergeant Leon R. Matson (ASN: 1224735), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Ronssoy, France, 27 and 29 September 1918. On the morning of 27 September after all the officers and most of the sergeants of his company had been killed, Sergeant Matson took command and led the company into effective combat, making repeated reconnaissance in front of the line under severe machine-gun fire. On 29 September he led his men forward, capturing an important knoll, and held it with a small number of men. Finding the ammunition and food depleted, he led a detail through the heavy machine-gun fire, bringing back both food and ammunition.