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 Thomas Joseph Stafford (ASN: 275221), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Juvigny, France, 1 September 1918. Locating an enemy machine-gun nest, Private Stafford, upon his own initiative, organized a patrol and led it in an attack on the hostile position, thereby facilitating the advance of the company.