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 Corporal Leo Joseph Lavoie (ASN: 42517), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Argonne Forest, France, 9 October 1918. Corporal Lavoie led his squad against an enemy machine gun which was causing severe losses on his company. His journey was made through a very difficult terrain and under deadly fire, but his mission was accomplished without the loss of a man. Later in the day he was killed while leading his squad.