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 Paul J. Pappas (ASN: 2659513), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 39th. Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Argonne Forest, France, 12 October 1918. When his company withdrew from their position, Private Pappas, with one other soldier, saw the enemy forming for a counterattack, and, without thought of their danger, refused to withdraw, but held this part of the line for several hours by the efficient use of an automatic rifle, subject to withering machine-gun fire, during the entire time.