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 Harry P. Merritt (ASN: 1752148), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 312th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Grand Pre, France, 1 November 1918, After having established an observation post without aid in broad daylight and under perilous shell fire of the enemy, Sergeant Merritt volunteered and carried rations to the post under cover of darkness. Though knocked down by shell concussion, he reached every man who was unable to leave his post, and his entire exploit was carried out under most harassing machine-gun and artillery fire.