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 Captain (Infantry) Arthur Joseph O’Keefe, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Soissons, France, 21 July 1918. Captain O’Keefe personally led a group of automatic riflemen in an attack against a number of the enemy who were attempting to cut off the assaulting wave. By his skillful leadership and gallant conduct he succeeded in defeating the enemy party. In the performance of this duty Captain O’Keefe was wounded in the leg by a machine-gun bullet. In spite of his wound this officer continued to expose himself to heavy machine-gun fire while directing the movements of his company until wounded a second time by a high-explosive shell. Twice wounded, he refused to be evacuated until ordered to the rear.