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 Captain (Infantry) Francis W. Gilbert, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Fismes, France, 26 August 1918, and near the Meuse River, France, 10 November 1918. On 26 August Captain Gilbert made a daylight reconnaissance of the ruins of the Tannerie, near Fismes, entered Fismes under direct observation and fire of the enemy and continued his reconnaissance along the Rouen-Reims road, under machine-gun fire, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the terrain was favorable for an attack on the Chateau du Diable. On 10 November he voluntarily led a patrol across the River Meuse, and located the enemy positions.