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 Sergeant Robert Blalock (ASN: 53141), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 7 October 1918. Sergeant Blalock led a patrol of 10 men against a strong enemy machine-gun position, flanking the strong point and attacking it from the rear with admirable judgment. After expending all his ammunition this soldier continued the fight with two captured Luger pistols, and himself killed eight of the enemy in spite of being wounded. Nine machine-gun nests were wiped out as a result of this attack and the position was organized for defense with the captured guns.