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 Private David Leslie Mason (ASN: 1327189), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery D, 115th Field Artillery, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, north of Montfaucon, France, 5 October 1918. Private Mason, with another soldier, on two occasions ran the telephone line between the battery and the forward observation post, passing through a heavy enemy barrage. Having accomplished this task they discovered that the wire had again been cut and proceeded to repair the line. While so engaged his companion was wounded and died almost instantly. Private Mason continued to repair the line under shell fire, thereby enabling the batteries of his battalion to continue firing effectively.