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 Captain (Infantry) Lilburn C. Davidson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Villers-sur-Preny, France, 15 September 1918. When his own lines were being heavily shelled at night, Captain Davidson lead a patrol of 36 men to gain contact with the enemy, and after being challenged by German outposts, led his men in a charge, under heavy fire, killing forty of the enemy, and capturing 36 prisoners, 4 trench mortars, and 4 machine-guns. He established and held an important position until leap-frogged by the remainder of his company in an attack several hours later.