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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Stayton M. Hankins, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Etienne, France, 8 October 1918. Although severely wounded in the leg. Lieutenant Hankins continued in command of his company, remaining in action until he fell from complete exhaustion and was evacuated.