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 First Sergeant Ernest R. Potter (ASN: 556150), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Thibault, France, 7 August 1918. When all the officers of his company had become casualties, and the morale of the men was sinking, Sergeant Potter assumed command and, after reorganizing the company, successfully led it in repelling several vicious hostile counterattacks. During the action he was wounded in the shoulder, but he refused to go to the rear until he was ordered to do so by the officer sent to relieve him.