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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Emil J. Eklund, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 58th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bois-du-Fays, France, 5 October 1918. The courageous conduct of Lieutenant Eklund while in command of the left flank platoon of the division during a strong enemy counterattack, exposed to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, had a great moral effect on his men. The attack was repulsed after a hand-to-hand encounter in which many casualties were suffered.