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 (Corps of Engineers) Cornelius Beard, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 101st Engineers, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at the front near Chavignon, France, 17 March 1918. Captain Beard was knocked down by a shell explosion, which caused him to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness he searched for and found some of his men. During two hours he assisted Sergeant Reed and Corporal Belanger, of his detachment, back to the trenches, part of the time under fire of a German aviator and of German artillery. His energy, self-sacrifice, and spirit throughout the operation were of the highest order.