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 Ocea Valancia Phillips (ASN: 145606), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery C, 151st Field Artillery, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Suippes, France, 15 July 1918. After all telephone communication had been severed on account of heavy enemy shell fire, Sergeant Phillips volunteered and carried a very important message through an extremely heavy bombardment. Although wounded while carrying out this mission, he refused medical attention until the message had been delivered.