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 Sergeant Robert M. McDonald (ASN: 1311723), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Brancourt, France, 8 October 1918. On the morning of 8 October near the village of Brancourt, France, Sergeant McDonald alone charged an enemy machine-gun nest that was causing many casualties in his platoon and temporarily holding up the advance. He killed the gunner and leader, put the gun out of action, and thus enabled his platoon to advance.