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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Arthur B. Cornwell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Exermont, France, 4 October 1918. When his battalion commander was missing Lieutenant Cornwell assumed command of the Second Battalion and personally led it in the attack on Hill 240, which was strongly defended by the enemy, who, by their machine-gun fire, inflicted heavy casualties upon the attacking troops. The position was taken and the units on both flanks, previously held up by the fire from this position, were enabled to continue their advance.