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 Corporal Adolph Kossman (ASN: 1786762), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, on Hill 378, near Verdun, France, 5 November 1918. Corporal Kossman with two other men occupied a small shell hole on the front line, there being no other troops near except 15 men who occupied a large shell hole a few yards to their right. The morning was foggy and about 60 Germans crept through the lines, outflanked the men in the large shell hole, disarmed them, and ordered them to stand fast. Corporal Kossman and his two companions immediately opened rapid fire, killing six of the Germans and completely routing the others, thereby rescuing their 15 comrades from the hands of the enemy.