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 Corporal Frederick O. Gaskins (ASN: 1311737), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near la Haie-Menneresse, France, 16 October 1918. When the advance of his company was held up by two machine-gun nests Corporal Gaskins led his squad entirely on his own initiative in the face of intense machine-gun fire against an enemy post on the right flank. Followed by his men he rushed the position, taking it and killing two of the gun crew. He then rushed a second post alone with his rifle, killing one of the crew. He was himself killed before he could reach the post.