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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Zebulon B. Thornburg, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Montbrehain, France, October 8 – 16, 1918. Although he was severely wounded on October 8 to such an extent that eating was impossible, First Lieutenant Thornburg remained as second in command until the night of 16 October when he was again wounded during an advance by his company.