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 Sergeant Benjamin Dickens (ASN: 42761), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the forest of Argonne, France, 4 October 1918. Although he was severely wounded early in the attack, Sergeant Dickens refused to be evacuated, and, when all of the officers had become casualties, he took command of the company and led it to the objective. Shortly afterwards the enemy made a strong attack against the position, but, although he was scarcely able to walk, he so successfully led his company that the superior number of the enemy was forced to withdraw.