The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Howard P. Fitzgerald (ASN: 73590), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Bois Brule, near Apremont, France, 10 April 1918. Private Fitzgerald displayed coolness, courage, and the spirit of self-sacrifice in action, digging out a buried comrade while under heavy fire, persisting in his work until he received a mortal wound, of which he died 11 April 1918.