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 Major Edward R. Lawless (ASN: 556118), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Troesnes, France, 18 July 1918. When it had become necessary to send an urgent message to the battalion base company, Sergeant Major Lawless, though under fire for the first time voluntarily took the message across an open field, a distance of 500 yards. It seemed almost impossible to get through the murderous fire, but, knowing the importance of the message, Sergeant Major Lawless ventured through, rather than take the longer yet safer route. He completed his mission, returning over the same course.