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 Cook Frederick William Schmelz (ASN: 1281962), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company K, 114th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, north of Verdun, France, 27 October 1918. Cook Schmelz volunteered to take hot food to the front line troops who had not received hot food for three days. After traveling four kilometers he was fatally wounded by a bursting shell.