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 Corporal Walden E. Blackburn (ASN: 1858690), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 324th Infantry Regiment, 81st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Manheulles, France, 9 November 1918. Corporal Blackburn, after having part of his right breast torn away, remained on duty directing his squad for 36 hours, when he fainted from exhaustion, and was carried from the field.