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 Major (Infantry) Philip J. McCook, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Adjutant General’s Department, 9th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Lion-devant-Dun, France, 6 November 1918. Having at his own request been assigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade, Major McCook was sent out by his brigade commander to reconnoiter the enemy’s lines near Lion-devant-Dun and Cote St. Germaine, to report on the attack of the 61st Infantry which was engaged in an attack on those places. He passed from front-line units to the command post of the 61st Infantry through severe artillery and machine-gun fire in order to telephone the results of his reconnaissance to his brigade commander. While passing through this heavy fire for the third time, he was severely wounded in the right leg by a fragment of shell. Though his leg was broken and he was unable to walk, he refused to be evacuated until assisted to a telephone where he made his report to his brigade commander. He then refused to have his wound dressed until others had received treatment.