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) Maurice Stanley Ricker, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 6th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Brieulles, France, 4 November 1918. In covering the right flank of his company Lieutenant Ricker led his platoon across a pontoon bridge which was broken by artillery fire before the entire command had crossed. Without hesitation he proceeded to lead his men under direct machine-gun and minenwerfer fire, routing a large detachment of the enemy, capturing eight Germans, five machine-guns, and two minenwerfers, and successfully covering the crossing of the remainder of the company.