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 Major (Infantry) Thomas Frederick Wirth, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Bois-de-Mort Mare, France, 12 September 1918. When his battalion was held up by numerous German machine-gun nests Major Wirth walked out in front in the face of violent fire and led his battalion in capturing eight machine-guns and 12 prisoners.