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) Albert Ellis Birch, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 342d Machine-Gun Battalion, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bois-de-Bantheville, France, 1 November 1918. Although suffering from a wound received during the action of 1 November Lieutenant Birch refused to go to the rear for treatment, but continued on duty with his platoon throughout a very critical period. He remained on duty until the morning of 11 November when he was killed.