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 Sergeant Fitzgerald Walden (ASN: 1490019), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Etienne, France, 8 October 1918. After his company commander had been killed, Sergeant Walden took command of that portion of the company near him and, reorganizing the line under heavy fire, continued the attack. He was wounded in the head shortly afterward, but he continued forward with his men and repulsed an enemy counter-attack. He refused to be evacuated until nightfall, when he was no longer able to stand.