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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Chester Frederick Kroger, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 19 July 1918. While directing the attack of his platoon against strong enemy resistance beyond the Paris-Soissons Highway, Lieutenant Kroger was severely wounded in the head by a machine-gun bullet. He refused immediate evacuation, and although staggering from the loss of blood he assisted in the reorganization of the various units of the 2d Battalion and continued with the advance until he fell from exhaustion.