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 Rufus Robert Phillips (ASN: 1311239), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Brancourt, France, 9 October 1918. When his company was about to reach its objective, a sunken road, Private Phillips’ company was swept by enfilading fire from several hostile machine-guns. Upon his own initiative this soldier jumped down the bank, mounted his automatic rifle in the center of the road in the face of the enemy’s fire, and opened fire, sweeping the parapets of the hostile positions with well-directed fire. His act resulted in the capture of the 30 Germans occupying the post.