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 Frank Joseph Downs (ASN: 559681), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 58th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Courchamps, France, 19 July 1918. During an enemy counterattack, when the units on his right and left were falling back, Sergeant Downs, promptly grasping the situation, fearlessly led his platoon forward 400 yards, broke up the enemy attack, and established a new line of resistance. His heroic conduct enabled adjoining units to advance.