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 Thomas A. O’Brien (ASN: 1897357), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 325th Infantry Regiment, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, east of St. Juvin, France, 16 October 1918. Sergeant O’Brien assumed command of his platoon and successfully led it forward until it was held up by severe enemy machine-gun fire. He then went forward himself and silenced the hostile machine gun with hand grenades, being wounded in the performance of this gallant act.