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 Lieutenant (Infantry) Walter Verlin Dial, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 2d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fleville, France, 5 October 1918. Lieutenant Dial displayed exceptional courage in leading his platoon in attacking and breaking up German machine-gun nests under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Although he was wounded, Lieutenant Dial refused to be evacuated and continued to advance until he was killed.