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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Gordon Carlisle Stapleton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 6th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Vilosnes, France, 6 November 1918. Entering Vilosnes with a patrol, Lieutenant Stapleton encountered heavy enemy machine-gun fire. He attacked and killed four Germans, took four prisoners and forced those remaining to take shelter in a trench. Although greatly outnumbered he held his position, while the French crossed the River Meuse and took many prisoners.