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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Woodell Abner Pickering, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 369th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Champagne Sector, France, September 26 to 1 October 1918. Lieutenant Colonel Pickering repeatedly exposed himself to intense shell and machine-gun fire, establishing observation stations and giving able counsel to subordinate officers.