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) August Frank Behrendt, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Exermont, France, 9 October 1918. On three different occasions, Captain Behrendt reorganized his command, and, placing himself in the lead, advanced against machine-gun nests, each time accomplishing his mission, despite severe losses. He led a patrol against a nest, which was firing point-blank on his troops, continuing after half his patrol had been killed or wounded, rushing the nest and capturing the gun and crew.