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) Stephen Caldwell Markoe, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Seicheprey, France, 1 March 1918. While occupying a combat position in the Bois Carre with his platoon of Company I, 18th Infantry, the position was smothered under an intense bombardment of enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. Following a rolling barrage, Lieutenant Markoe was attacked by a vastly superior force of enemy storm troops. The company commander having been killed, Lieutenant Markoe led the counterattack against the raiding forces and killed in close combat the leader of the raiding party. The action of Lieutenant Markoe stopped the enemy in this part of the sector and was the principal factor which led to the repulse of the enemy raid. Despite the fact that he had been severely wounded early in the action, he refused to relinquish command until the enemy was decisively ejected with great loss from the position. Lieutenant Markoe displayed exceptional leadership and extraordinary heroism in this action.