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 Major (Infantry) Oliver Allen, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Forest of Argonne, France, 4 – 11 October 1918. Captain (now Major) Allen remained in command of his company after he had been wounded, and took command of the battalion and led it forward, under heavy fire from artillery and machine guns, taking and holding all objectives.