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 Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant] Earl Almon, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fleville, France, 4 October 1918. After the battalion commander and all the company officers had been killed or wounded, Captain Almon, battalion adjutant, took command, and although wounded by high explosive fire, reorganized the battalion under violent artillery and machine-gun fire and continued the advance. Although twice counterattacked, he reached and held his objective.