The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major (Infantry) Fred Alden Cook, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Etienne-a-Arnes, France, October 3 – 9, 1918. Major Cook led his battalion in an attack, although exposed to machine-gun fire from both flanks and front, steadying and encouraging his men by his fearless example. He was instantly killed while directing the reduction of a strongly entrenched machine-gun position.