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 Major (Infantry) Joseph Taylor Clement, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near La Ferte-Milon, France, 18 July 1918. Major Clement reported for duty from the hospital as his regiment was preparing to advance to the attack. Soon thereafter, when it was of urgent necessity that important orders to the regimental commander be carried to the officer commanding the assault battalion, he volunteered for the dangerous mission. Accompanied by two men he worked his way forward through a heavy artillery shell fire, located the assault units, and delivered the attack order. Endeavoring to locate the commander of the assault battalion, he fearlessly went into a heavy artillery barrage and continued this important and hazardous task until he was wounded by shell fire.