The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Howard Clifton McCall, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 59th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Chezy, France, 19 July 1918. After his company had suffered heavy losses in taking its immediate objective, Captain McCall placed himself at the head of his command and led his men forward in the face of violent shell and machine-gun fire, until he fell mortally wounded, cheering his men on with his last words.