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 Clifton Merriman (ASN: 2336957), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 372d Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bussy Farm, France, 27 September 1918. Corporal Merriman attacked with hand grenades an enemy machine-gun which was causing heavy losses to his platoon, and succeeded in killing the gunner and putting the gun out of action. He then organized the remainder of the platoon and led them to their positions in the trenches south of Bussy Farm.