The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Leonard A. Petersen (ASN: 1472728), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 140th Ambulance Company, 110th Sanitary Train, 35th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Baulny, France, 29 September 1918. Serving as a litter bearer, Private Petersen voluntarily left cover and exposed himself to intense artillery fire to rescue wounded men lying in the open. Mortally wounded, he continued to assist in the rescue of wounded comrades till he fell exhausted.