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 Harry Mates (ASN: 246456), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. While acting as company runner Private Mates carried messages under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. When a machine-gun nest caused a temporary halt in the advance of his company he attacked the nest, capturing three prisoners. He assisted wounded men, applied first aid, and removed them through heavy shell fire to the dressing station.