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 Sergeant Chester W. Blakeman (ASN: 38840), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Meuse River, France, November 1 – 4, 1918. After being wounded by machine-gun fire, Sergeant Blakeman treated his wound himself and continued to lead his men under heavy shell and machine-gun fire until he was again wounded and ordered to a first aid station.