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) Mathias Willoughby Haney, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Montfaucon Hill, France, September 26 – 28, 1918. Captain Haney, then a lieutenant, displayed exceptional skill in extricating his company from a perilous position into which it had moved because of a dense fog, and, in so doing, captured prisoners whose number exceeded that of his own command. Taking command of his battalion next day at a critical time he succeeded in stopping a threatened retreat, and under heavy machine-gun and shell fire reestablished the line. On 28 September near Septsarges, Captain Haney led his battalion forward through heavy fire, advancing his line one kilometer and holding it against counterattacks until he was relieved.