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 Harold J. Devereaux (ASN: 264010), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Sergy, France, 31 July 1918. When his company had crossed the River Ourcq and captured the Bois Pelger, the corporal of his squad, fighting beside him, was wounded by machine-gun fire. The enemy continued to fire on the wounded man, and Private Devereaux, single-handed, with the fire of his rifle, attacked the machine gun and succeeded in putting it out of action.