The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard B. Rockwood, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 310th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Thiaucourt, France, 26 September 1918. Entrusted with an important message from the brigade commander to an infantry unit, he fearlessly crossed a shell-swept area, delivered the message, and, while returning with the reply, was mortally wounded by a shell fragment. With great effort, notwithstanding his wound, he delivered the reply to the message and fell unconscious, dying shortly after.