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 First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) Chester Harding Plimpton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company F, 21st Engineers, American Expeditionary Forces, at Thiaucourt, France, 27 September 1918. Lieutenant Plimpton exposed himself to heavy artillery fire in order to direct the repair of a railroad track over which ammunition was delivered to the batteries. The enemy made a determined effort to destroy the line of communication and subjected the locality to intense and accurate bombardment for a number of hours. The gallantry displayed by this officer was an important factor in the successful completion of the mission assigned to him. He was killed by concussion of a large-caliber shell as his work was nearing completion.