The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Edward Hantschke (ASN: 88944), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 165th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Pannes, France, 12 September 1918. Seeing his platoon leader was being fired upon by a German sniper, Private Hantschke, who at the time was under cover, jumped to his feet and stepping in front of the officer tried to push him into a shell hole. The bullet intended for the officer struck Private Hantschke in the mouth, killing him instantly.