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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Benjamin Ira Berry, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 5th Machine-Gun Battalion, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Mont Blanc, France, October 4 – 6, 1918. Upon hearing that his company commander had been killed and that the second in command was wounded, Lieutenant Berry went immediately to the front line and took command. On 5 October 1918, he was wounded in the head and the surgeon ordered him evacuated. Lieutenant Berry removed the evacuation tag and went to the front line, where he remained for 24 hours. Although in a weakened condition, he personally guided the company after they had been relieved.