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 Captain (Infantry) Richard Gardiner Plumley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near the Bois-de-Septsarges, France, 27 September to 10 October 1918. On duty as regimental adjutant, Captain Plumley felt a place of safety, and going forward under heavy fire assisted in reforming the assault battalion, which had lost most its officers and was becoming disorganized. During the following days he repeatedly crossed areas which had been subjected to heavy gas bombardments, and as a result became almost blind and greatly weakened by gas poisoning. He refused to be evacuated, however, and remained on duty throughout the night, rendering valuable assistance to the regimental commander, who had just taken command.