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 Walter I. Barnhart (ASN: 1830737), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 320th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bois d’en Dela, France, 27 September 1918. Accompanied by an officer, Sergeant Barnhart advanced against an enemy machine-gun nest which was holding up the advance of his company. When they had reached a point within 50 yards of the gun, they were fired upon and the officer was severely wounded. Sergeant Barnhart immediately picked the officer up and through a hail of machine-gun bullets brought him to a position of safety.