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 First Sergeant Thomas Otto Mader (ASN: 1253128), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery A, 109th Field Artillery, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Varennes, France, 2 October 1918. First Sergeant Mader displayed great coolness and bravery in helping to guide sections of his battery over a road swept by enemy shell fire, during which eight men were wounded and ten horses killed, including one which he himself rode. The driver of a swing team, having difficulty in controlling one of the horses of a section, was assigned to another horse and his place taken by Sergeant Mader, who guided the section until he was so severely wounded that he was unable to control. In spite of his wounds, he directed the carriages to places of safety, and, disregarding personal safety, requested the medical officer to first give attention to the other wounded. Sergeant Mader’s conduct was an inspiration to the men of his battery.