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 Corporal Ernest E. Bickford (ASN: 43389), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. Without assistance Corporal Bickford attacked an enemy machine-gun which was located in a tree and dislodged the gun, but was himself killed while performing this courageous duty.