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 Robert J. Fitzgerald (ASN: 9632), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Section No. 625, Ambulance Service (French Army Attached) near Soissons, France, 3 September 1918. His ambulance broke down while he was on his way to an advanced post along a road then under steady machine-gun fire. In spite of the enemy fire, he attempted to repair the machine, but was unable to do so. Securing assistance, he repaired it under fire in full view of the enemy and continued to make repeated trips with wounded through machine-gun and artillery bombardment.