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 Sergeant Edgar Alman Runyan (ASN: 45988), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company A, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, north of Exermont, France, 9 October 1918. Sergeant Runyan assumed command of a platoon after all other sergeants of the platoon had become casualties and led it through several successive attacks. Although wounded in the head by a machine-gun bullet he refused to go to the rear for medical attention but remained in command of the platoon until his company was relieved.