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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Peyton Van Dorn Deese, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 167th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Nesles, France, 28 July 1918. Although wounded, Lieutenant Deese led his platoon against enemy machine-gun nests, silencing them. He hade his way through a heavy barrage, encountering and breaking an enemy counterattack. Progressing slowly and with great difficulty on account of the deadly fire, he reached a strongly fortified position of the enemy, where he captured many prisoners and machine guns, and which he defended until the arrival of support. During the action he was again wounded, the effects of which caused his death.