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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Edward J. Gilchrist, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, 29 October 1918. After the advance of his company had been held up by intense machine-gun and rifle fire, Lieutenant Gilchrist successfully gathered together the scattered members of his command and consolidated his position. He then exposed himself to great danger from heavy machine-gun fire by crawling far in advance of our lines and rescuing several wounded men who were lying helpless, unprotected in shell holes.