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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) George Wilsey Blackinton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 353d Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Xammes, France, September 12 – 13, 1918. Having moved his battalion to an advanced position, in accordance with orders, Major Blackinton found himself without support on either flank and no supporting machine guns or artillery two kilometers in advance of our main front line. In spite of his perilous situation this officer, with the utmost coolness and good judgment, set to work entrenching and consolidating the position determined to hold it at all costs, though his battalion was subjected to artillery and machine-gun fire and was threatened by counter attack by the enemy in force.