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 First Class Benjamin W. Diggs (ASN: 1309738), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Montbrehain, France, 7 October 1918. Private Diggs volunteered and successfully carried a message through heavy shell and machine gun fire in plain view of the enemy, after one runner had been killed and two others wounded in attempting to accomplish this mission. Though he was gassed in performing this feat, Private Diggs refused to seek first aid until he was wounded later in the afternoon.