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 Ira S. Parke (ASN: 405912), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Machine-Gun Company, 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Bony, France, 29 September 1918. Private Parke, a machine-gunner, although wounded three times during the crossing of the La Selle River and the capture of the heights beyond, refused to leave the field, and set a splendid example to his comrades.