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) Eilert G. Heiken, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 356th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Argonne and St. Mihiel (France) drives, 23 September and 9 and 10 November 1918. On the night of 23 September though wounded in the shoulder at the beginning of the attack on Dommartin Wood, Lieutenant Heiken continued until his mission was successfully accomplished. On the night of 9 November with eight men, he was the first to cross the Meuse and patrol enemy lines. On the night of 10 November with 20 men, he covered the crossing of his battalion until severely wounded.