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 Private Joe Smith (ASN: 556655), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bois-du-Fays, France, October 10 – 13, 1918. Acting as battalion runner, Private Smith repeatedly carried messages over a route swept by machine-gun and artillery fire. It was necessary to send runners night and day, in order to maintain communication with the front lines. He volunteered out of his turn for this dangerous but all-important work.