The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Francis Ackley (ASN: 2383027), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 60th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cunel, France, 14 October 1918. After his company had suffered severe losses from an enemy machine gun, Corporal Ackley volunteered to silence it single-handed. Advancing from the flank, under heavy sniping fire, he surprised the crew, killed the three gunners with his pistol and then turned the machine gun on the enemy, covering the advance of his detachment to the position and inflicting several losses on the hostile troops.