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 George J. Fries, Jr. (ASN: 1828534), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Medical Detachment, 319th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 80th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Cunel, France, 11 October 1918. For two days and nights Private Fries worked incessantly as the only first-aid man with two companies in the front line. On several occasions he went out in front of our lines under heavy enemy fire, to aid wounded men and to help bring them back to our line, his pack and equipment being badly torn by pieces of shrapnel.