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 Lieutenant (Infantry) Walter A. Richards, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 326th Infantry Regiment, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Juvin, France, 11 October 1918. Leading his platoon in attack, Lieutenant Richards was subjected to fierce and devastating fire of enemy artillery and machine-guns. Although he himself was wounded and 90 per cent of his platoon made casualties, he continued to press forward until he was felled by machine-gun fire after reaching the foremost position of the entire action.