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 Private Michael F. Connelly, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Romagne, France, October 10 – 13, 1918. Private Connelly, acting as battalion runner, repeatedly crossed the valley between hill 258 and La Cote Dame Marie, a distance of 500 yards, swept continually by machine-gun and sniper fire.