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 Private First Class Edward F. Schmitt (ASN: 1703461), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near Mont Notre Dame, France, 10 September 1918. Voluntarily accompanying an officer and noncommissioned officer of his battalion in a search of the Bois-de-Chandriere for survivors of a battalion which had been relieved from its position in the line, Private Schmitt crossed an open field under terrific enemy fire, a distance of 600 yards, under constant observation of the enemy, sought and found several survivors, and led them back to his own lines. The heroic and soldierly conduct of Private Schmitt and his devotion to his comrades greatly inspired the men of his battalion. Private Schmitt was later killed in action while gallantly fighting with his battalion in the Argonne Forest.