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 Private Frederick E. Ballard (ASN: 109677), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 102d Machine-Gun Battalion, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Marcheville, France, 26 September 1918. Private Ballard displayed remarkable courage and coolness during this engagement. When apparently trapped in an enemy trench near a machine-gun emplacement, he worked his way out under the wire entanglement in plain view of the enemy, and, re-turning with hand grenades, assisted in bombing out the machine-gun nest and capturing some of the men who were defending it. Later he accompanied a detachment and assisted in mopping up the town, driving out the enemy, and taking several prisoners. While thus engaged he was struck by an exploding shell and killed.