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) George R. Higley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 124th Machine-Gun Battalion, 33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Consenvoye, France, 8 October 1918. Upon their own initiative Lieutenant Higley, who was on duty as reconnaissance officer, and another officer crossed the Meuse River to reconnoiter a supply route. They were fired upon by two enemy machine-guns, but, disregarding the heavy machine-gun and shell fire, they advanced on the enemy positions and captured the two machine-guns together with 31 Austrian prisoners.