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 Sergeant Homer Purcell (ASN: 41882), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Hill 272, north of Fleville, France, 11 October 1918. After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties, Sergeant Purcell led the remnants up Hill 272 under heavy machine-gun fire and surrounded a heavy trench mortar which was defended by two machine guns. In the encounter he personally shot down the noncommissioned officer in charge of the enemy gun. Seven of the enemy crew were captured and four were killed.