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 Private Albert Leo O’Connell (ASN: 633407), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery C, 60th Field Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, near Montblainville, France, 4 October 1918. In an effort to rescue a comrade who had been severely wounded, Private O’Connell ran with a litter into an area under heavy shell fire. He succeeded in getting the wounded soldier on the litter, but before he could carry him out of danger, another shell burst directly under the litter, killing the wounded soldier and severely wounding Private O’Connell.