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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Clarence G. Elmer, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Belval-Bois-des-Dames, France, 2 November 1918. When he was asked to send out a squad in advance of the line under heavy machine-gun fire to enfilade enemy artillery, Lieutenant Elmer asked for and received permission to lead the party, and by his bravery and coolness succeeded in driving the enemy gunners away from their guns.