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 First Class Claude A. Coram (ASN: 1306542), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bellicourt, and Nauroy, France, 29 September 1918, and near Premont, France, 9 October 1918. When his platoon was held up by enemy artillery fire, Private Coram, a runner, succeeded in passing through the severe fire and establishing liaison with the infantry nearby. On October 9th, he again showed unusual coolness in carrying a message through a wood containing numerous enemy snipers and machine guns.