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 Sergeant Joel Anderson (ASN: R-43872), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fleville, France, 4 October 1918. After all the company officers had been killed or wounded, Sergeant Anderson assisted in organizing his company under heavy fire and led a portion in the attack. When the advance was halted by heavy enfilade machine-gun fire, he led a platoon to the attack of the machine-gun nest and captured the guns and their crews, thus permitting the continuation of the advance.