The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Peter Joseph Crotty (ASN: 91184), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 165th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Meurcy Farm, near Villers-sur-Fere, France, 28 July 1918. Sergeant Crotty displayed exceptional heroism when he took 22 men and attacked a nest of enemy machine guns, forcing the enemy to retire with heavy losses. He held the position for three hours when, owing to his party being reduced by casualties to five men, he was compelled to withdraw.