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 Private Elmer Preston Richards (ASN: 284865), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 354th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Xammes, France, 18 September 1918. Knowing that, on account of the intense shelling, it would be impossible to supply the men in the front line with rations, Private Richards, in a wounded condition, procured a quantity of rations, and, carrying them to the line through heavy shell fire, personally distributed to each man a portion.