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) Claude Hamilton Miller, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with 24th Infantry, in action at Naguilian, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 7 December 1899. When the command of which he was a member was held up in the crossing of the Rio Grande de Cagayan by rifle fire of a well-entrenched enemy, and being without boats or rafts with which to cross, Lieutenant Miller hastily constructed a raft made of bamboo, strips of shelter tents, and personal equipment, an on this flimsy affair with two soldiers volunteered to cross the river. Displaying great gallantry and with utter disregard for his own safety Lieutenant Miller crossed the river in the face of heavy rifle fire and took part in an attack which drove the enemy from the trenches and the town occupied by them, thereby making possible the further advance of the command.