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 Private First Class George J. Harssell (ASN: 1282974), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 111th Machine-Gun Battalion, 29th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 12 October 1918. By encouraging his comrades and rendering valuable aid to the wounded, Private Harssell succeeded greatly in retaining the morale of those about him, during an almost continued rain of shells. Even after being severely wounded by shrapnel, he attempted to retain the spirit by singing. After being relieved to a hospital he died.