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) Ernest J. G. Rusch, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, France, 9 October 1918. Although previously wounded several times Lieutenant Rusch steadfastly remained in command of his platoon of machine guns and gallantly led it forward into position through heavy artillery and machine-gun fire to support his Infantry, which had been held up by enemy fire. By his timely action, his skill in location of his guns and the direction of their fire, and his absolute disregard of personal danger, he quickly caused the withdrawal of the enemy machine guns, thus enabling his Infantry to advance from its precarious position where it was suffering heavy losses from direct fire of enemy machine guns and artillery.