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 First Sergeant Paul C. Rowan (ASN: 2386685), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Cunel, France, 14 October 1918. In the absence of a commissioned officer, and under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, Sergeant Rowan succeeded in reorganizing the units of his command, and by his fearless example greatly increased the morale of his company. He successfully led them to the attack until he was killed by shell fire.