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 Lionel Goodman (ASN: 264361), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Verdun, France, October 11 – 13, 1918. Private Goodman, runner for the Third Battalion, 125th Infantry, during the taking and holding of the line near La Tuilerie Ferme, was engaged in carrying important messages, crossing and re-crossing death valley between Hill 258 and La Cote Dame Marie, the foremost part of the line held by the Third Battalion. The valley was swept by machine-gun fire, the terrain affording absolutely no protection, requiring a perilous dash of 500 yards across open ground before any cover was reached. It was only by display of supreme courage that important messages reached the battalion.