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 Master Engineer Albert Lee Rust (ASN: 1328259), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 105th Engineers, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Bellicourt, France, 29 September 1918. Master Engineer Rust commanded a platoon of engineers, following the first wave of the infantry for the purpose of clearing a road for the artillery. Under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, he directed the work with exceptional ability, at one time leading his platoon in advance of the infantry. By organizing covering parties and utilizing two automatic riflemen, who had become separated from their own unit, he kept his platoon intact, capturing 35 prisoners and cleaning out three machine-gun nests in the course of his operations. While making a reconnaissance ahead of his platoon he personally took nine Germans, after wounding their officer. As a result of his skillful leadership and gallant conduct his mission was successfully carried out.