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 Ira M. Payne (ASN: 2335281), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 372d Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Sechault, France. 29 September 1918. Having found a machine-gun hidden in a brush which was causing serious casualties to his company, he crept up, killed the gunners with his rifle, and captured the gun.