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 Corporal Thomas Monroe Purdom (ASN: 2297238), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company I, 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Romagne, France, October 9 – 11, 1918. Voluntarily assuming the duties of runner, after he had seen many others fail in attempting to get through the unusually heavy fire, Corporal Purdom repeatedly passed through the fire and aided materially in the success of the entire operations. When the supply of first-aid material had become exhausted, he again went through, returning with sufficient bandages to care for the wounded, who could not, at that time, be removed.