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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Alan Ramsay Cole, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. Although wounded early in the morning, Second Lieutenant Cole continued to lead his platoon in the front wave, personally silencing machine-gun nests, displaying wonderful courage, leadership, and devotion to duty during the entire operations. He remained with his platoon until ordered to the rear by his battalion commander.