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 First Sergeant Walter Jerzakowski (ASN: 274802), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, between Fismes and Vesle River, France, 5 August 1918. After a temporary halt had been made by his organization to reorganize the line, and the advance was resumed, an attempt was made by the enemy to outflank the company. On the exposed flank, under heavy enemy shell fire, Sergeant Jerzakowski coolly and heroically organized such a defense that the enemy was unable to outflank his company which was able to reach its objective. Sergeant Jerzakowski was later killed in action on 5 October 1918.