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 Sergeant Harry Hildebrand (ASN: 106567), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 3d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, July 18 – 24, 1918. Sergeant Hildebrand went forward beyond the front line, exposed to fire of snipers, and repaired and put into action an abandoned enemy machine-gun. Later his platoon commander, being wounded and the platoon disorganized by direct artillery fire he took command, reorganized the platoon, gathered reinforcements, and protected a dangerously exposed flank of the infantry. He also voluntarily led his machine guns with the attacking battalion, rendering most efficient service until wounded.