The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Matthew Spautz (ASN: 99868), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 168th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Ourcq River, northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France. During the advance of 26 July 1918, while in command of his platoon, Sergeant Spautz showed extraordinary heroism, leading his men on in the advance, having three times been knocked down by enemy shells. After having been wounded by machine-gun fire, he still continued to advance. He was finally killed while doing his utmost to advance.